Covid-resistant people inspire new vaccine tactic

Covid-resistant people inspire new vaccine tactic Understanding how some people naturally resist Covid infection, despite clearly being exposed to the virus, could lead to better vaccines, say researchers.

A team at University College London said some people had a degree of Covid-immunity before the pandemic started. BBC News

See also:

• Pre-existing polymerase-specific T cells expand in abortive seronegative SARS-CoV-2 (open access) Nature
• Vaccine firm Valneva seeks apology over Javid comments BBC News
• Germany coronavirus: Record rise prompts warning of 100,000 deaths BBC News
• Daily Covid cases fall for NINTH day in row with today's 39,329 infections down 5% The Daily Mail
• WHO Covid adviser criticises Boris Johnson not wearing mask in hospital and 'politicising' debate The Daily Mail
• Care boss urges No10 to delay 'no jab, no job' policy until April The Daily Mail
• Unvaccinated nursing home workers test positive for COVID-19 at a rate TEN TIMES higher The Daily Mail
• Mandatory Covid jabs shouldn’t be controversial – NHS staff have a duty to do no harm | Frances Ryan The Guardian
• Care homes in England set to lose 50,000 staff as Covid vaccine becomes mandatory The Guardian
• ‘I feel really let down’: unjabbed care home staff on quitting their jobs The Guardian
• Homes refuse NHS requests as mandatory vaccines drive staff exodus The Independent
• No jab no job - will the COVID vaccine policy cripple care and NHS? Sky News

Whole genome sequencing could save NHS millions of pounds, study suggests

Whole genome sequencing could save NHS millions of pounds, study suggests Genomics England and NHS England findings highlight benefits of using WGS to help detect rare diseases

The use of whole genome sequencing could save the NHS millions of pounds, a study suggests, after it found a quarter of people with rare illnesses received a diagnosis for their condition through the technology. The Guardian

See also: 

• 100,000 Genomes Pilot on Rare-Disease Diagnosis in Health Care — Preliminary Report (open access) New England Journal of Medicine
• Hundreds of patients in gene study given rare disease diagnosis BBC News

New Ebola vaccine made by team behind Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine starts human trials

New Ebola vaccine made by team behind Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine starts human trials A new Ebola vaccine that was developed by the Oxford University team that made the AstraZeneca Covid jab is being trialled in humans for the first time today.

The jab – currently known as ChAdOx1 biEBOV – uses the same technology as the breakthrough coronavirus shot.

It has been designed to tackle the Zaire and Sudan strains of Ebola, the two most common and deadly types. The Daily Mail

See also:

• University of Oxford starts new Ebola vaccine trials BBC News

Move to speed up vaccine boosters as Covid-19 deaths pass 1,300 in Northamptonshire hospitals

Move to speed up vaccine boosters as Covid-19 deaths pass 1,300 in Northamptonshire hospitals Health chiefs in Northamptonshire have welcomed a move to open up bookings for Covid-19 vaccination boosters a month early.

Those over-50s who are eligible for third jabs can now book appointments five months after their second dose to ensure they get jabs on the day they reach the six-month milestone rather than waiting extra days or weeks for a convenient appointment. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

CQC stops new patients at some St Andrew's Healthcare wards

CQC stops new patients at some St Andrew's Healthcare wards A mental health hospital has been prevented from taking new admissions on some of its wards by health inspectors.

It follows an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton.

Inspectors were told patients did not feel safe and "staff fell asleep when they were supposed to be observing" people, the CQC said. BBC Northampton

See also: 

• Northampton mental health hospital blocked from admitting new patients on three wards over safety concerns  Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Caring for older patients with complex needs: How does England compare with 11 OECD countries?

Caring for older patients with complex needs: How does England compare with 11 OECD countries? How the NHS performs compared to health care systems in other countries is the subject of ongoing public debate. But international comparisons can be methodologically limited and often raise more questions than answers.

Launched in 2018, the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes and Needs in Care (ICCONIC) aims to advance international comparisons research by using patient-level data. This enables comparison across whole pathways of care – essential in order to identify areas for improvement for the most complex patients. The Health Foundation 

No one wants to see my baby: challenges to building back better for babies

No one wants to see my baby: challenges to building back better for babies This report explores the continued impact of Covid-19 on babies. It consists of a survey of professionals, in-depth studies with eleven families and a review of the literature, conducted with partner organisations Home-Start and Best Beginnings. The report shows that many services across the UK are not operating as they were before the pandemic, and babies and their families are missing out as a result. Parent-Infant Foundation 

Health at a glance 2021: OECD indicators

Health at a glance 2021: OECD indicators This annual report provides the latest comparable data and trends on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in indicators of health status and health risks, as well as in the inputs and outputs of health systems. This edition also has a special focus on the health impact of Covid-19 in OECD countries, including deaths and illness caused by the virus, adverse effects on access and quality of care, and the growing burden of mental ill-health. There is also a document giving highlights for the United Kingdom Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

See also:

• ‘UK compares poorly with other advanced nations’ on excess deaths and life expectancy The King's Fund
• Covid crisis has slashed life expectancy in four-fifths of countries, major report finds The Daily Mail

NHS health and wellbeing strategic overview

NHS health and wellbeing strategic overview This Framework is a high-level culture change toolkit aimed at health and wellbeing staff, human resources (HR) and organisational development (OD) staff, HR and OD directors, wellbeing guardians, managers and leaders and anyone with an interest in health and wellbeing. It is made up of four documents: strategic overview; elements of health and wellbeing; diagnostic tool; implementation guide. NHS England

Toddlers may be getting hooked on sugar in snacks

Toddlers may be getting hooked on sugar in snacks Some snacks sold as weaning or infant foods contain alarming amounts of sugar which could encourage a sweet tooth from an early age, according to health campaigners.

Action on Sugar analysed 73 baby and toddler products on sale in UK shops. BBC News

See also:

• Baby & Toddler Sweet Snacks Action on Sugar
• The sugars content of baby and toddler sweet snacks and the health halo that surrounds them (report) Action on Sugar
• A third of ‘healthy’ toddler snacks would get red traffic light rating The Daily Telegraph

AI skin cancer diagnoses risk being less accurate for dark skin – study

AI skin cancer diagnoses risk being less accurate for dark skin – study AI systems being developed to diagnose skin cancer run the risk of being less accurate for people with dark skin, research suggests.

The potential of AI has led to developments in healthcare, with some studies suggesting image recognition technology based on machine learning algorithms can classify skin cancers as successfully as human experts. The Guardian

See also:

• Characteristics of publicly available skin cancer image datasets: a systematic review (open access) The Lancet Digital Health

NHS must be 'careful' with numbers, warns Health Secretary in wake of Amanda Pritchard error

NHS must be 'careful' with numbers, warns Health Secretary in wake of Amanda Pritchard error The NHS must be "careful" with Covid numbers, the Health Secretary has warned in the wake of an error by the head of the health service in England.

Amanda Pritchard came under fire for claims the NHS had 14 times as many Covid admissions as the service did this time last year. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid-19 hospitalisations are below last year, not 14 times higher as NHS CEO claimed Full Fact
• NHS chief ridiculed over claims of '14 times as many Covid admissions as last year' The Daily Telegraph

No10's OWN estimates show just 20,000 unjabbed NHS staff will get compulsory jabs

No10's OWN estimates show just 20,000 unjabbed NHS staff will get compulsory jabs The new 'no jab, no job' rule in the NHS might only spur on around 20,000 workers to get vaccinated against Covid, according to the Government's own estimates.

A white paper into the impact of the policy was published by the Department of Health tonight after Sajid Javid announced that all frontline NHS workers in England need to be double-jabbed against Covid by April 1 or they will be sacked. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Coronavirus births: 'My baby's first word was mask' BBC News
• Making Covid vaccines compulsory may NOT be best method of boosting uptake, data shows The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson warns 'too many' fully-vaccinated elderly Britons are ending up in hospital with Covid The Daily Mail
• Covid infections picked up on hospital wards killed 11,000 patients being treated for something else The Daily Mail
• 'Tens of thousands' of NHS and care home staff could quit over Covid jabs The Guardian
• Compulsory Covid jabs: three NHS workers on the policy The Guardian
• NHS to lose tens of thousands of staff over mandatory Covid vaccines The Independent
• Mandatory vaccination welcome but could be disastrous The Independent
• Covid conspiracy theorists confront ‘sickest’ patient in hospital The Independent
• Hospital faces backlash after defending PM not wearing mask The Independent
• Dominic Raab defends Boris Johnson after PM is pictured not wearing mask on hospital visit Sky News

Depressed elderly Brits suffered equivalent of SIX YEARS of natural memory decline in lockdown

Depressed elderly Brits suffered equivalent of SIX YEARS of natural memory decline in lockdown Depressed Britons suffered a rapid decline in their memory over lockdown, research claims. 

Exeter University and King's College London academics looked at the mental health and cognition of 6,300 over-50s. 

Depressed and anxious adults performed worse on short-term memory tests, which experts blamed on spending a third of the year in lockdown. The Daily Mail

Radio Nene Valley: Northampton Hospital radio station turns 50

Radio Nene Valley: Northampton Hospital radio station turns 50 A radio station that aims to brighten patients' stays in hospital has turned 50 years old.

Radio Nene Valley (RNV), based at Northampton Hospital, celebrated the milestone on Sunday. BBC Northampton 

Healthiest and unhealthiest places to live in Northampton revealed

Healthiest and unhealthiest places to live in Northampton revealed New research has shown where the healthiest and unhealthiest places are located in Northampton.

The study, conducted by the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC), looks at many different aspects when working out where the most unhealthy places are to live in the town. Northants Live

Addressing complex needs in the community: a GP trainee’s perspective

Addressing complex needs in the community: a GP trainee’s perspective I work as a GP trainee in an inner-city London practice. I’d like to tell the story of one of my patients to give some insight into the kinds of issues that primary care teams are at the heart of every day. The King's Fund 

A healthier future: how to make general practice work better for everyone

A healthier future: how to make general practice work better for everyone This is a collection of essays about general practice in England and its future. The authors offer analysis and prescriptions based on expertise developed working in fields including medicine, NHS management, economics and the Civil Service. Social Market Foundation

See also: 

• Restricting where GPs can and can’t work won’t solve GP shortage, says College Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs should be banned from jobs in affluent areas, think tank report says The Daily Mail

UK health services make landmark pledge to achieve net zero

UK health services make landmark pledge to achieve net zero All four UK health services have united to commit to net zero carbon emissions, Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid has announced.

This ambitious move by all nations is happening alongside 47 countries – including the United States and Germany – who are pledging landmark commitments to develop climate resilient, sustainable low-carbon health systems. Department of Health and Social Care 

NHS chief urges people to take up ‘evergreen’ vaccine offer as people of all ages come forward for first jab

NHS chief urges people to take up ‘evergreen’ vaccine offer as people of all ages come forward for first jab The head of the NHS today urged anyone who has not had a COVID-19 jab to join the thousands flocking to take up the ‘evergreen’ offer every day as winter approaches.

More than a half a million adults have come forward for a first dose since the beginning of September, an average of around 9,000 a day over the past four and a half months. NHS England 

Covid-19: Vaccines to be compulsory for frontline NHS staff in England

Covid-19: Vaccines to be compulsory for frontline NHS staff in England Frontline NHS England staff will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid, the government is expected to announce later.

A deadline will be set for next spring to give unvaccinated staff time to get both doses, Whitehall sources told the BBC.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 NHS workers in England were unvaccinated, said Chris Hopson, head of NHS Providers. BBC News

See also: 

• Booster vaccines could be given out EVERY winter, SAGE adviser reveals  The Daily Mail
• Novavax plans to FINALLY submit data for 'protein based' COVID-19 vaccine to FDA The Daily Mail
• NHS boss Amanda Pritchard is accused of 'abusing' Covid statistics  The Daily Mail
• Dementia tests have plummeted by a THIRD during the Covid pandemic  The Daily Mail
• Patients forced to travel 20 miles for booster amid record surge in Covid vaccine bookings The Daily Telegraph
• NHS chief admits 'we've known from the beginning' that Covid infections in hospital are a 'problem' The Daily Telegraph
• Tory peer says Covid texts may have been deleted to save space The Guardian
• Boris Johnson condemned for ‘not bothering’ to wear mask while walking around hospital The Independent
• Boris Johnson criticised for not wearing face mask on hospital visit while avoiding Commons sleaze debate iNews
• COVID-19: People urged to book jabs as NHS warns hospitals coming under record pressure Sky News

‘It’s going to get worse’: view from inside the NHS as winter approaches

‘It’s going to get worse’: view from inside the NHS as winter approaches As experts warn of ‘unprecedented’ demand for hospital beds, six NHS workers describe how pressures are affecting them

Bed occupancy in England’s hospitals has already reached normal peak winter levels, NHS leaders have warned.

While modelling suggests that the rise in Covid infection levels appears to have stalled for now, the chief executive of NHS Providers has stressed that bed occupancy levels at acute hospitals are already at 94-96%, an “unprecedented” situation not normally seen until the middle of winter. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS chief warns ‘stretched’ staff face most challenging winter ever The Independent
• 'NHS is running hot,' says head of NHS England ITV News

Sajid Javid announces independent inquiry into mortuary abuse

Sajid Javid announces independent inquiry into mortuary abuse An independent inquiry has been launched by the health secretary into how an NHS electrician was able to sexually abuse 100 corpses in hospital mortuaries.

Sajid Javid has announced the inquiry into David Fuller’s attacks on corpses while working for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust, in Kent, will publish an interim report in three months and a final report next year. The Independent

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on David Fuller Department of Health and Social Care
• David Fuller: Independent inquiry announced into mortuary abuse BBC News

CAMHS workforce data reveals extent of nurse gaps as demand increases

CAMHS workforce data reveals extent of nurse gaps as demand increases The registered nurse workforce in children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is growing at a slower pace than other professions and has the most vacancies, new data shows.

Health Education England has released its latest stocktake of the CAMHS workforce for 2021. Nursing Times

Lowest paid NHS staff on track for another pay cut as pension rates skyrocket

Lowest paid NHS staff on track for another pay cut as pension rates skyrocket The Government is planning to cut the real-terms pay of NHS workers once again as it proposes fundamental changes to the NHS pension scheme.

Nearly a million of the lowest-paid NHS workers could see their pension contributions rise next year if the proposals are accepted. Nursing Notes

Going to bed between 10 and 11pm every night cuts your risk of heart disease, study claims

Going to bed between 10 and 11pm every night cuts your risk of heart disease, study claims Going to bed during the ‘golden hour’ between 10pm and 11pm slashes the risk of developing heart disease, according to a major study.

Scientists found there is a link between bedtimes and heart attacks and stroke, particularly in women, with those who stay up late more at risk.

The study by the University of Exeter said going to bed after midnight may damage the heart as people are less likely to see morning light, disrupting the natural body clock. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Accelerometer-derived sleep onset timing and cardiovascular disease incidence: a UK Biobank cohort study (open access) European Heart Journal
• Regular 10pm bedtime linked to lower heart risk BBC News

Where eight covid outbreaks in Northamptonshire are right now

Where eight covid outbreaks in Northamptonshire are right now Latest public heath data shows that there are currently eight outbreaks of Covid-19 in Northamptonshire.

They are relatively spread across the area, in Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, Northampton and South Northamptonshire. Northants Live

See also:

• Sajid Javid says 'get Covid booster jabs to prevent restrictions over Christmas' Northamptonshire Telegraph

Charity's plan to 'Light Up a Life' as part of Christmas countdown at Northampton General Hospital

Charity's plan to 'Light Up a Life' as part of Christmas countdown at Northampton General Hospital Charity workers raising cash for patients and staff at county hospitals plan to 'Light Up a Life' as part of their countdown to Christmas.

Northamptonshire Health Charity will dedicate hundreds of lights on a tree to loved ones no longer with us at a special ceremony at Northampton General Hospital next month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby: Bleed control kits installed by anti-knife charity

Corby: Bleed control kits installed by anti-knife charity Bleed control kits have been installed in a town where a teenager was fatally stabbed earlier this year.

Rayon Pennycook, 16, died in May on Constable Road in Corby, Northamptonshire, on 25 May.

The four bleed control kits and three bleed control cabinets, which are available 24 hours a day, were provided by the East Midlands Knife Amnesty. BBC Northampton

Attracting, supporting and retaining a diverse NHS workforce

Attracting, supporting and retaining a diverse NHS workforce The vital work of the NHS would be impossible without the contribution of a broad range of people, and a diverse and inclusive workforce ensures better care for patients. Yet despite considerable efforts and initiatives, it is clear that issues such as discrimination and harassment are present at every level of the health service. In this major new report commissioned by NHS Employers, we examine the representation of under-served groups and provide a set of recommendations for change as the NHS strives to become an exemplar of equality, diversity and inclusion. Nuffield Trust

See also: 

• More resource needed to stamp out discrimination experienced by NHS staff NHS Providers
• NHS does not have the fundamentals in place to tackle discrimination, report warns Nuffield Trust
• RCN responds to Nuffield Trust report that says NHS does not have fundamentals to tackle discrimination Royal College of Nursing

Anchor institutions must re-imagine how public bodies immerse themselves within local communities

Anchor institutions must re-imagine how public bodies immerse themselves within local communities Most people go into public service fired by a high ambition, wanting to change the world! But sadly, institutional life can narrow our aims. In the NHS in particular, we can slip into constant enquiry about role – is this our job, is it my job, who else’s job might it be? And so, bit by bit, year by year, the high aims are whittled down to what is possible and what is deemed relevant, and a fear of failure translates into a worry about experimenting. The King's Fund 

£250 million in NHS technology to modernise diagnostics

£250 million in NHS technology to modernise diagnostics The NHS will receive £248 million over the next year to invest in technology that will deliver more diagnostic tests, checks and scans to help provide faster diagnosis of a health condition, earlier treatment and reduce waiting lists. Department of Health and Social Care 

Over 10 million people in the UK receive COVID-19 top-up vaccines

Over 10 million people in the UK receive COVID-19 top-up vaccines More than 10 million people have now received their COVID-19 booster or third jabs, the latest figures show, ensuring the vital protection they have secured from their first two doses is maintained over the winter months. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• People urged to get COVID-19 boosters as almost 10m people jabbed Department of Health and Social Care
• Booster bookings to be opened a month early Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS offers residents in every eligible care home a COVID booster jab NHS England

Where are we at with Covid?

Where are we at with Covid? There is a never-ending stream of data about Covid and at times it can seem completely contradictory. So where do we stand at the moment?

The number of people testing positive is continuing to fall, but are we wrong to constantly tout this number around? It is looking certain that the epidemic in schoolchildren is in decline, but why, and will it last? And do we need to pay more attention to infections in older age groups? After all, they are the people at highest risk. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Pfizer says antiviral pill 89% effective in high risk cases BBC News
• Covid: Unvaccinated urged to come forward before winter BBC News
• Covid: Ten million boosters now given in UK but more needed - PM BBC News
• Covid: Booster jabs to open earlier for booking in England BBC News
• Covid-19: Dr Sharon Hopkins says it's 'so important' for people to get booster vaccine BBC News
• Covid-19: US reopens border to UK travellers after almost two years BBC News
• Millions put at risk by booster shot chaos with vulnerable patients struggling to get appointments The Daily Mail
• Is THIS why Delta is so infectious? Scientists find little-known mutation on part of Covid variant The Daily Mail
• Boosters will see Covid 'fade into the background', Oxford scientist says The Daily Telegraph
• UK government could restrict travel for people who refuse Covid boosters The Guardian
• Support and education more effective than forcing Covid vaccination of NHS staff, warns RCN Nursing in Practice

Ambulance response times double as patients die waiting for paramedics

Ambulance response times double as patients die waiting for paramedics Patients are waiting almost twice as long for a paramedic as they were at the height of the pandemic, The Independent can reveal, as ambulance services buckle under the strain of record demand with dwindling resources.

See also:

• England’s hospitals already at peak winter bed occupancy, NHS bosses warn The Guardian
• Long waits at A&E becoming normal, warn doctors’ groups The Guardian

Care boss blasts ministers for treating NHS like ‘favoured child’

Care boss blasts ministers for treating NHS like ‘favoured child’ Ministers have deepened the split between social care and the health service since the pandemic began, the chief executive of trade group Care England has said.

In a devastating attack on the government, Professor Martin Green said that ministers tested out controversial policies on social care and treated it “like the child they are irritated with” while the NHS was “the favoured child”. The Guardian 

See also:

• Hundreds of care units may close as 60k staff could face axe if they aren't double jabbed this week The Daily Mail

Married lesbian couple launch discrimination action against NHS

Married lesbian couple launch discrimination action against NHS A married lesbian couple are launching a landmark legal test case against a branch of NHS England’s fertility sector, claiming it discriminates against LGBT+ families.

Influencers Megan Bacon-Evans, 34, and her wife Whitney, 33, from Windsor in Berkshire, have accused their clinical commissioning group (CCG), Frimley, of penalising them financially because of their sexuality. The Guardian

NHS saves more than 2 million hours using Microsoft Teams

NHS saves more than 2 million hours using Microsoft Teams More than two million hours of staff time have been saved since the NHS rolled out Microsoft Teams, a new survey has found.

In the first six months, the communications platform was used across the health service as it replaced 14.5m phone calls and hosted more than 32m virtual meetings. Digital Health 

Chart of the week: More money for the NHS front line, but what about the rest?

Chart of the week: More money for the NHS front line, but what about the rest? While last week’s Spending Review brought significant increases in NHS and capital spending, John Appleby and Mark Dayan show how certain health budgets are facing another financial squeeze despite seeing real-terms cuts for much of the past decade. Nuffield Trust 

Partnering is a verb

Partnering is a verb How can leaders of statutory health and care organisations partner with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in a way that makes the most of these relationships and their transformative potential? Here we recommend the courage to question, and realising the force of a ‘follow’, as two simple and powerful techniques in the work of partnering.  The King's Fund 

Integrating gender data in health information systems: challenges, opportunities and good practices

Integrating gender data in health information systems: challenges, opportunities and good practices This paper explains the importance of gender data and statistics and how health information systems contribute. It explores the common challenges in producing and using gender and health data and suggests opportunities and examples of good practices. Recommendations to support national health systems improve data quality are provided. World Health Organization 

A lifeline for London

A lifeline for London This report, commissioned by the Mayor of London, explores how voluntary and community organisations in the capital supported people’s mental health during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, how they adapted to the crisis, and what they’ve learned from the experience. The report calls on commissioners to learn from the pandemic and find ways of funding voluntary and community organisations that enable them to work more flexibly, to advocate on behalf of their communities as well as provide services, and to have more stable finances. Centre for Mental Health 

£3 million more to reduce brain injuries at birth

£3 million more to reduce brain injuries at birth NHS maternity staff will benefit from a further £3 million to improve the safety of the women and babies they care for, the Patient Safety Minister has announced today.

The funding will support the RCOG, RCM and THIS Institute to deliver the second phase of a programme to reduce brain injuries at birth, which can have a devastating impact on babies and their families. Department of Health and Social Care 

New campaign to 'Stop COVID-19 hanging around'

New campaign to 'Stop COVID-19 hanging around' A new campaign has launched demonstrating the importance of simple ventilation techniques to reduce the risks of catching COVID-19 this winter. Department of Health and Social Care 

High-risk Covid gene more common in South Asians

High-risk Covid gene more common in South Asians University of Oxford scientists have uncovered a gene that doubles the risk of lung failure and death from Covid.

They say around 60% of people from South Asian backgrounds and 15% of people of European ancestry carry the high-risk version of the gene.

Vaccines are key and help significantly reduce these risks, researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Identification of LZTFL1 as a candidate effector gene at a COVID-19 risk locus (open access) Nature Genetics
• First pill to treat Covid gets approval in UK BBC News
• Covid: WHO warns Europe once again at epicentre of pandemic BBC News
• Breathing support for Covid patients like CPAP machines doesn't increase risk of air contamination The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid vaccine booster drive is going at the right pace to stave off Plan B, scientists claim The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: A FIFTH of NHS staff are still not fully vaccinated The Daily Mail
• It's not just the liberties of NHS workers that deserve protection - but the public's too The Daily Telegraph
• Scrap vaccine deadline for care-home workers or risk huge staff loss, warns provider The Guardian
• Ventilate your home to stop Covid spread, government says The Guardian

NHS orders health trusts to review mortuary access after hospital electrician admits sexually assaulting dead bodies

NHS orders health trusts to review mortuary access after hospital electrician admits sexually assaulting dead bodies The NHS has ordered all health trusts to review mortuary access and post-mortem activities following revelations in the David Fuller case. Sky News 

Children urged to get HPV jab after Covid saw sharp drop in uptake

Children urged to get HPV jab after Covid saw sharp drop in uptake Cancer experts are urging families to ensure their children get the HPV vaccine after it emerged that almost half of those eligible missed out last year because of the pandemic.

A study published in The Lancet on Thursday confirmed that the jab was cutting cases of cervical cancer by 87%. The results were hailed as powerful further evidence that the vaccine has prevented, and will continue to prevent, thousands of young people from falling ill. The Guardian

See also: 

• Calls for catch-up programme of HPV vaccines for boys who missed out The Daily Mail

Pregnant women in England will be inducted when they are just ONE week overdue

Pregnant women in England will be inducted when they are just ONE week overdue regnant women will be offered induction when they are just one week overdue under new medical guidelines to cut the risk of stillbirths.

Babies are due at about 40 weeks, and currently women are offered induction on the NHS if they do not go into labour naturally by 42 weeks.

But the health watchdog yesterday said that this should be decreased to 41 weeks to cut the risk of death and complications. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Inducing labour guideline [NG207] NICE 

Health chiefs step up call for over-50s to get a Covid booster jab as cases rise in Northamptonshire hospitals

Health chiefs step up call for over-50s to get a Covid booster jab as cases rise in Northamptonshire hospitals Health chiefs in Northamptonshire are warning the county's over-50s not to miss out on their Covid-19 booster jabs as latest research shows protection from two doses reduces significantly over time. Northamptonshire Telegraph

State of caring 2021: a snapshot of unpaid care in the UK

State of caring 2021: a snapshot of unpaid care in the UK This research report reveals that over one in five unpaid carers (21 per cent) are worried they may not cope financially over the next 12 months. This is in addition to concerns about practical support, where just 13 per cent of carers are confident they will get the practical support they need in the next year. The situation has worsened during the pandemic with a quarter of carers (25 per cent) spending more on equipment or products for the person they care for. The financial strain is also damaging carers’ mental health with over half (52 per cent) reporting they feel anxious or stressed about their finances. Carers UK

NHS offers home blood pressure checks to save thousands of lives

NHS offers home blood pressure checks to save thousands of lives Hundreds of thousands of people will be able to test their blood pressure at home, thanks to lifesaving monitors on the NHS.

The devices are being made available to 220,000 people who have been diagnosed with uncontrolled high blood pressure and who could benefit from regular checks.

The action to catch more killer conditions earlier and save lives as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, is estimated to prevent 2,200 heart attacks and almost 3,300 strokes over five years. NHS England

New freight service to rapidly deliver medical goods to UK

New freight service to rapidly deliver medical goods to UK Medicines and medical goods which are at risk of shortage will be transported to the UK within days through a new international transport system, the government has announced.

The International Express Freight Service (IEFS) has launched to deliver products to the UK rapidly when a supplier’s own logistical arrangements are disrupted, to ensure patients can continue to access the treatments they need. Department of Health and Social Care

Will complacency damage Covid booster rollout?

Will complacency damage Covid booster rollout? Booster vaccines are seen as the single most important way to control Covid as we head into the winter months. Critics though say the rollout of third jabs has been too slow, and a faster response could have saved hundreds of vulnerable lives already.

With life slowly returning to normal in the UK, and most restrictions lifted, here are some statistics that might seem surprising. BBC News

See also:

• US mothers divided on vaccines for young children BBC News
• Health bosses will unveil plans for compulsory Covid jabs in NHS 'within days' The Daily Mail
• Britain's Covid vaccine watchdog 'will approve second doses for 16 and 17-year-olds this week' The Daily Mail
• Shamed anti-vaxxer Kate Shemirani is back on YouTube: months after being banned from platform The Daily Mail
• Covid makes Christmas 'problematic', says Jonathan Van-Tam as he warns 'darkest months' are ahead of us The Daily Telegraph
• Covid jabs to be compulsory for NHS staff in England from April The Guardian
• Javid’s hard line on making NHS staff in England get jabbed may pay off The Guardian
• Jonathan Van-Tam voices concerns over rising UK Covid death rate The Guardian

HPV vaccine cutting cervical cancer by nearly 90%

HPV vaccine cutting cervical cancer by nearly 90% The human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine is cutting cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90%, the first real-world data shows.

Cancer Research UK described the findings as "historic", and said it showed the vaccine was saving lives.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by viruses, and the hope is vaccination could almost eliminate the disease. BBC News

See also:

• The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study (abstract) The Lancet
• HPV vaccine cuts cervical cancer rates by almost 90%, study finds The Independent

Boris Johnson considering new minister to target NHS waiting list backlog

Boris Johnson considering new minister to target NHS waiting list backlog Alok Sharma, currently COP president, is being tipped inside Whitehall for the role, under plans to shift government response to Covid from pandemic to endemic problem. iNews 

Number of patients waiting in ambulances outside A&E units for an hour 'has QUADRUPLED in a year'

Number of patients waiting in ambulances outside A&E units for an hour 'has QUADRUPLED in a year' The number of patients left waiting in the back of ambulances outside A&E for an hour has quadrupled within a year, according to official data.

Britain has been in the midst of an ambulance crisis for months, with patients left stuck outside crowded casualty units for up to 12 hours. 

Leaked NHS statistics reveal around 28,900 ambulance handovers that lasted over an hour were recorded in October in England this year. The Daily Mail 

Northamptonshire GP patients face shorter waits for appointments than before pandemic, figures reveal

Northamptonshire GP patients face shorter waits for appointments than before pandemic, figures reveal Northamptonshire GP patients faced shorter waits for appointments in September than before the pandemic, figures suggest.

It mirrors a national trend, which the Royal College of GPs said indicates remote consultations could be making GP services more accessible. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health spending during Covid-19: how does the UK compare?

Health spending during Covid-19: how does the UK compare? Sarah Reed, Laura Schlepper and John Appleby analyse how health spending has changed across different countries in response to the pandemic, and assess why the UK may have spent more comparatively. Nuffield Trust

A radical new vision for social care: How to reimagine and redesign support systems for this century

A radical new vision for social care: How to reimagine and redesign support systems for this century How should we care for one another? And what might it take to turn our current thinking about care and the care system on its head? How might we tell a new story in which care is not seen as a cost but as an investment in social flourishing?

In the annual REAL Challenge lecture, acclaimed author and social innovator Hilary Cottam argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a cataclysm, ‘brutally exposing the crisis in the funding, culture and operation of our care systems’. Hilary argues that we can only honour this recent experience and the deeper legacies of injustice, by creating something new. And by daring to imagine what it really means to care. The Health Foundation

The Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021: what was announced and what does it mean for health and care spending?

The Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021: what was announced and what does it mean for health and care spending? The October Spending Review 2021 is the first time since 2015 that multi-year budgets have been set for total health and care spending. So, where do these announcements leave health and care spending over the next three years? The King's Fund

Overlooked: why we should be doing more to support families and friends affected by someone else's drinking, drug use or gambling

Overlooked: why we should be doing more to support families and friends affected by someone else's drinking, drug use or gambling This report examines Adfam's latest research with YouGov on the prevalence of people currently negatively affected by the drinking, drug use or gambling of a family member or friend in 2021, and the different challenges and impacts these families currently face. The report's findings highlight the need for more recognition of the impacts on families and friends and it includes recommendations on how to better support this overlooked group.

Years lost: boosting life expectancy through preventative health interventions

Years lost: boosting life expectancy through preventative health interventions This report finds: over the past decades, life expectancy has significantly improved across the G20; across the G20, there has been a shift from cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death to cancer, which overtook cardiovascular conditions in 2016 due to improvements in prevention, detection and treatment; and neurological conditions, including dementia, are now the leading cause of death in richer countries, including the US, UK and Saudi Arabia. However, the report also warns that while overall improvements in life expectancy are promising, too many years are still lost due to preventable causes. The ILC is calling on governments across the G20 to invest at least six per cent of their health budgets on preventative services like vaccines, screenings and early intervention. International Longevity Centre

Adult social care campaign to build bigger and better workforce

Adult social care campaign to build bigger and better workforce People across England will be encouraged to pursue a rewarding career in adult social care during the biggest period of change in a generation, following the launch of a new recruitment campaign today (Wednesday 3 November). Department of Health and Social Care

NHS delivers 1.6 million booster jabs in record week as total tops seven million

NHS delivers 1.6 million booster jabs in record week as total tops seven million The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme reported a record 1.6 million booster doses last week (Monday to Sunday) as the NHS booster campaign continues to protect the country against the virus. More than seven million people across England have received their COVID-19 booster vaccine and since Friday, more than half a million people have booked in. NHS England

Van-Tam on Covid: 'There are some hard months to come in the winter"

Van-Tam on Covid: 'There are some hard months to come in the winter" Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has said that too many people think the pandemic is over, and that there are "hard months to come in the winter."

He added that the use of face coverings, and the caution people take while interacting with each other will decide how the UK copes with the virus during winter, along with the take up of vaccines and booster shots. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Sage scientist Sir Jeremy Farrar steps down from role BBC News
• Javid on 'Covid is over' risk and new variants BBC News
• Covid England: Mutant sub-strain of Delta variant spreads The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccines were 77% effective against hospitalization among immunocompromised Americans The Daily Mail
• Health care workers who contracted COVID-19 and then got the vaccine had higher antibody levels The Daily Mail
• Making Covid vaccines compulsory for care home workers had 'LITTLE' effect on boosting uptake The Daily Mail
• JCVI failed to back youth Covid jabs despite favourable modelling The Guardian

Research confirms impact of Covid-19 on doctors’ mental health

Research confirms impact of Covid-19 on doctors’ mental health The Covid-19 crisis triggered high levels of anxiety and depression among doctors in the UK, Italy and Spain, a new study has found

The research of 5,000 survey responses, across the three countries, found Italian doctors were most likely to have suffered during the crisis last year. The Independent

See also: 

• Anxiety and depression among medical doctors in Catalonia, Italy, and the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic (open access) PLOS One

Sajid Javid: NHS backlog plan to be published ‘in weeks’ but medics must wait for long-term workforce strategy

Sajid Javid: NHS backlog plan to be published ‘in weeks’ but medics must wait for long-term workforce strategy The Health Secretary tells MPs he cannot yet give details on how many doctors, nurses and other clinical staff the Government thinks the NHS needs.

A plan to deal with the huge backlog of people waiting for NHS treatment in England will be published “in the coming weeks” although trusts will have to remain patient for a long-term workforce strategy, according to Sajid Javid. iNews 

'I quit my job as a senior NHS doctor in Nottinghamshire after my mother was forced to leave the country'

'I quit my job as a senior NHS doctor in Nottinghamshire after my mother was forced to leave the country' MPs will debate the exodus of overseas-born medics leaving the NHS for countries with ‘fairer’ approach to bringing parents.

A senior consultant has quit his position in the NHS and moved to work at a hospital abroad blaming tough immigration rules for being unable to bring his elderly mother to live with him in the UK. iNews

GP leading plans for industrial action over No10's plan to boost face-to-face appointments RESIGNS

GP leading plans for industrial action over No10's plan to boost face-to-face appointments RESIGNS The GP leading plans for industrial action over face-to-face appointments last night quit his post at the doctors' union.

Dr Richard Vautrey will step down as chair of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee later this month. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Colleagues pay tribute to BMA General Practitioners Committee chair, Dr Richard Vautrey, as he announces his intention to step down The BMA
• Sajid Javid says lack of face-to-face appointments are piling pressure on A&Es The Daily Mail
• Patient choice should determine whether GP appointments are face-to-face, says Javid GPonline
• GPs face tough choice as industrial action ballot closes after pay transparency rules kick in GPonline
• No 10 set to break promise of 6,000 more GPs in England, Sajid Javid says The Guardian
• Health secretary condemns life-threatening attacks on GPs amid rollout of panic buttons The Independent

'Game-changer' blood test that can detect 50 different types of cancer set to roll out in the US

'Game-changer' blood test that can detect 50 different types of cancer set to roll out in the US The Galleri test, which can detect 50 types of cancer using only a blood test, will become available in the U.S. soon. The test only requires two vials of blood and get a person results in ten days. The Daily Mail 

Taking stock: is the government meeting its commitments to increase NHS staff numbers?

Taking stock: is the government meeting its commitments to increase NHS staff numbers? The government’s 2019 manifesto included ambitious targets to increase the numbers of nurses and GPs in the NHS. Lucina Rolewicz takes a look at performance against these targets since the 2019 election and outlines some of the broader challenges in staffing health services. Nuffield Trust 

The WHO Prison Health Framework: a framework for assessment of prison health system performance

The WHO Prison Health Framework: a framework for assessment of prison health system performance This framework has been developed to fully capture the specificities of prisons and other places of detention. This document describes the conceptualization, development and operationalization of the framework. The framework will improve assessment of prison health system performance and the quality of data collected by the periodic Health In Prisons European Database (HIPED) surveys, which aim to inform progress in achieving equivalence of care for people living in prison. World Health Organization 

Deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status, England: deaths occurring between 2 January and 24 September 2021

Deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status, England: deaths occurring between 2 January and 24 September 2021 Between 2 January and 24 September 2021, the age-adjusted risk of deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) was 32 times greater in unvaccinated people than in fully vaccinated individuals.

The weekly age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) for deaths involving COVID-19 were consistently lower for people who had received two vaccinations compared with one or no vaccinations. Office for National Statistics

See also: 

• Unvaccinated people are up to 32 times more likely to die if they catch Covid, ONS report finds The Daily Mail
• Unvaccinated Britons 32 times more likely to die with Covid, ONS data suggests The Independent

Guidance updated to allow flexibility in booster programme for most vulnerable

Guidance updated to allow flexibility in booster programme for most vulnerable COVID-19 booster vaccines can now be given sooner than 6 months after their second dose to certain vulnerable people where this makes operational sense, as the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Green Book has been updated. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19 deaths pass five million worldwide

Covid-19 deaths pass five million worldwide More than five million people are known to have died of Covid-19 worldwide, 19 months since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Vaccines have slowed the death rate, but some health experts say the true toll could be far higher. BBC News

See also: 

• Delay making Covid vaccines compulsory for NHS workers until April so NHS can 'get through winter' The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases RISE for first time in nine days to 40,077 The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 breakthrough cases more likely in people with lower antibody levels, study finds The Daily Mail
• 'Zero Covid absolutists' accuse JCVI of being 'anti-vax' for considering herd immunity in children The Daily Mail
• Compulsory Covid vaccines for NHS workers could trigger winter staff crisis The Daily Telegraph
• Law group threatens to sue over Immensa Covid testing scandal The Guardian

Dr Aaron Beck: Cognitive behavioural therapy pioneer dies aged 100

 Dr Aaron Beck: Cognitive behavioural therapy pioneer dies aged 100 Dr Aaron Beck, an American psychiatrist considered the father of cognitive behavioural therapy, has died aged 100.

CBT, which was originally developed to manage depression, aims to help change the way people think to improve how they feel and alter their behaviour.

Dr Beck's work is considered hugely influential. He published hundreds of articles and 25 books in his career. BBC News

Thousands of adverse birth outcomes in England down to ‘alarming’ inequality

Thousands of adverse birth outcomes in England down to ‘alarming’ inequality Thousands of babies in England are being born prematurely, smaller than expected or stillborn because of “alarming” and “devastating” socioeconomic and racial inequalities across the country, a landmark study has suggested.

Both are known risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes. However, until now, little has been known about the scale of their “heartbreaking” impact on women and babies. The Guardian

See also:

• Adverse pregnancy outcomes attributable to socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in England: a national cohort study (abstract) The Lancet
• Poverty causing more than 1,000 stillbirths every year The Independent

GPs will be balloted on industrial action over access plans by next month, BMA confirms

GPs will be balloted on industrial action over access plans by next month, BMA confirms The BMA has confirmed it will press ahead with an indicative ballot of GPs over action the profession can take in protest over controversial access plans that have ‘added fuel’ to problems with unsustainable workload, burnout and bureaucracy. GPonline

Zinc supplements ‘may cut how long respiratory infections last’

Zinc supplements ‘may cut how long respiratory infections last’ Taking a zinc supplement may cut how long respiratory infections last, while also easing symptoms, a review of limited evidence suggests.

The new study of 28 existing studies involving almost 5,500 people found that taking zinc by mouth or as a nasal spray could ward off infection and may make people feel better more quickly. The Independent

See also:

• Zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections in adults: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (open access) BMJ Open

The antibiotic jab that can ease back pain

The antibiotic jab that can ease back pain An injection of acne-fighting antibiotics could revolutionise the treatment of back pain.

Doctors in the UK are testing whether a one-off jab of a new drug known as PP353 can ease — and even cure — the chronic lower back pain that affects millions.

The antibiotic kills bacteria that normally cause acne but have also been found lurking in the damaged spinal discs of patients with back pain. The Daily Mail

Four midwives from Northampton General Hospital trust win national awards for outstanding contributions

Four midwives from Northampton General Hospital trust win national awards for outstanding contributions Four midwives from Northampton General Hospital trust have scooped prestigious national awards for their outstanding contributions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• KGH staff receive top awards for 'outstanding, compassionate, and sensitive care' to patients Northamptonshire Telegraph

Votes open for Northamptonshire healthcare Quality Awards where patients can vote on who wins

Votes open for Northamptonshire healthcare Quality Awards where patients can vote on who wins Voting is now open for the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) annual awards ceremony, with two categories decided by patients' votes. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How can the green agenda help the health agenda?

How can the green agenda help the health agenda? Climate change is a global health emergency. What can we learn from how ‘green’ has gone up the agenda? And how might we apply useful lessons to getting further improvements in another complex and difficult challenge – improving the health of the UK population and reducing inequalities? The Health Foundation

Chart of the week: Which areas of England have the highest number of patients per GP?

Chart of the week: Which areas of England have the highest number of patients per GP?  With large differences in the number of GPs between different parts of England, this week Lucina Rolewicz takes a closer look at which areas of the country have the highest and lowest number of patients per GP. Nuffield Trust

The state of the world's children 2021

The state of the world's children 2021 This report finds that children and young people could feel the impact of Covid-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come. The report examines child, adolescent and caregiver mental health. It focuses on risks and protective factors at critical moments in the life course and delves into the social determinants that shape mental health and well-being. United Nations Children’s Fund

Staff psychological support response to Covid-19

Staff psychological support response to Covid-19 At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHTR) recognised that more staff would need to access psychology services. Almost 1000 staff have been able to access psychological support since adopting new pathways as part of their overall health and wellbeing offer. NHS Employers 

NHS set to deliver COVID-19 jabs in hundreds more schools as students return to class this week

NHS set to deliver COVID-19 jabs in hundreds more schools as students return to class this week Hundreds more schools will be offering the COVID-19 vaccine to 12-15-year olds this week when young people return to the classroom, as part of the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme. NHS teams will visit over 800 schools in the next week to offer children aged 12 to 15 a chance to get vaccinated. NHS England 

Covid booster jabs available at walk-in sites in England

Covid booster jabs available at walk-in sites in England Booster jabs to protect against Covid are now available at walk-in sites in England as the NHS hopes to bolster uptake ahead of a "challenging" winter.

About 30 million people who had their second vaccination more than six months ago will be able to get a booster without needing to make an appointment.

The NHS online walk-in finder will let people check their nearest centre. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19 vaccine: Jabs offered to 12-15-year-olds at 800 schools BBC News
• Some Covid booster doses brought forward BBC News
• Thousands of children will be told to mask up when they return to school The Daily Mail
• More than ONE MILLION people in England were infected with Covid in week before half-term The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus cases fall for the EIGHTH day in a row: Infections drop to 38,009 but deaths rise to 74 The Daily Mail
• Don't assume Delta is most contagious Covid variant, SAGE warns The Daily Mail
• All NHS Covid testing sites will start closing early from Monday The Daily Telegraph
• UK Covid infections are at record levels, but cases may have peaked The Guardian
• Covid R rate in England could be as high as 1.3, latest figures show The Independent
• The NHS faces another Covid crisis this winter but no one is listening The Independent

Menopause: HRT prescription costs to fall, says government

Menopause: HRT prescription costs to fall, says government A cut to the cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescriptions has been welcomed by campaigners.

HRT is used to treat the symptoms of menopause, such as such as anxiety, hot flushes and insomnia.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris was pushing for a law to make the menopause treatment free in England. BBC News

See also: 

• More support for women experiencing the menopause Department of Health and Social Care
• Davina McCall hails 'brilliant day for women' as HRT prescription cost cut BBC News
• Menopause treatment: HRT medication will be ‘cheaper and easier’ for women under new Government plans iNews

We aren’t yet into winter but pressure on the NHS is already unsustainable

We aren’t yet into winter but pressure on the NHS is already unsustainable Ambulances are queuing outside for hours and patient safety has been threatened, says this hospital consultant.

I am often surprised when I speak to non-medical friends. They are generally less interested in what is going on, but when they do ask they are surprised to hear that we are still under so much pressure.

There is a general perception that this is all under control now. The Guardian

See also:

• Medics savage 'insane' plans for A&E 'arrival lounges' to ease ambulance crisis The Daily Mail
• Use NHS 111 online service to protect busy A&Es, says health chief The Guardian
• Hospital emergency department under 'extreme pressure' urges those without life-threatening conditions to stay away Sky News

NHS facing ‘mass exodus’ of GPs in England, experts warn

NHS facing ‘mass exodus’ of GPs in England, experts warn The NHS faces a “mass exodus” of GPs, experts have warned as figures reveal nearly one in four are nearing retirement amid a growing row over staff shortages and access to family doctors.

Official data show that 23% of family doctors in England – or more than 6,000 – are 55 or over and expected to quit within the next few years. The average age at which doctors retire is now 59, and only one in 10 is under 35. The number of doctors retiring early has more than trebled since 2008. The Guardian

See also:

• General practice can’t afford to lose GPs to early retirement because of undoable workload pressure, warns College Royal College of General Practitioners
• The patients who face ONE HOUR on phone to reach their GP The Daily Mail

Life-extending drug for sufferers of asbestos lung disease will finally be available on the NHS

Life-extending drug for sufferers of asbestos lung disease will finally be available on the NHS For the first time, patients with ravaged lungs caused by breathing in asbestos will be entitled to a life-extending medicine previously denied them by the NHS.

A successful campaign against the 'inhuman restrictions' placed on the drugs – antifibrotics – mean those with pulmonary fibrosis caused by asbestos inhalation will be among more than 15,000 Britons with the disease who will now have the chance to extend their life by two years or more. The Daily Mail

Exposed: The plague of fake medical trials putting lives in danger

Exposed: The plague of fake medical trials putting lives in danger According to bombshell allegations from a group of highly respected experts, the medical world is rife with research fraud.

Their investigations suggest up to one in five of the estimated two million medical studies published each year could contain invented or plagiarised results, details of patients who never existed and trials that didn't actually take place. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire health bosses ask government for care worker shortages cash

Northamptonshire health bosses ask government for care worker shortages cash Council and hospital bosses in Northamptonshire have called for government help to "bridge the gap in care worker shortages".

Northamptonshire's hospital and local authority leaders said shortages were already "resulting in delays to patient discharges in our hospitals".

They said the situation will get worse as pressure builds throughout winter. BBC Northampton 

Spotlight on the early years: using national clinical audit reports to harness cross-cutting lessons

Spotlight on the early years: using national clinical audit reports to harness cross-cutting lessons This report calls for changes to audit reporting to enable better understanding of healthcare, specifically in relation to health inequalities. The report, which is based on data spanning four years, aims to improve health outcomes for all, in light of an increased focus on a variation in care as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership 

Surgical care of NHS patients in independent hospitals

Surgical care of NHS patients in independent hospitals This Report shows that successful collaborations between NHS hospitals and independent hospitals helps to protect patients when providing shared care. It is HSIB's first investigation into NHS-funded care in the independent sector and focuses on surgical care of patients. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch