Heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency

Heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency The UK Health Security Agency’s heat-health alert service is designed to help healthcare professionals manage through periods of extreme temperature. The service acts as an early warning system for periods of high temperatures that may affect the public’s health.

The alert will be in place from midday Tuesday 9 August to 6pm on Saturday 13 August for all regions of England.

See also:

• UK heatwave: Heat-health alert to begin across England BBC News

Child deaths expose mental health unit pressures

Child deaths expose mental health unit pressures Deaths, staff shortages and a culture of life-threatening self-harm are exposing deep fears about the quality of mental health care in hospitals for children and young people.

Since 2019, at least 20 patients aged 18 or under have died in NHS or privately-run units, the BBC has found.

A further 26 have died within a year of leaving units, amid claims of a lack of ongoing community support. BBC News

Did we all believe a myth about depression?

Did we all believe a myth about depression? A study showing depression isn't caused by low levels of the "happy hormone" serotonin has become one of the most widely shared medical articles.

It has provoked a wave of misleading claims about antidepressant drugs, many of which increase the amount of serotonin in the brain.

This research doesn't show the drugs aren't effective.

But the response to it has also sparked some genuine questions about how people treat, and think about, mental illness. BBC News

Nurses set to vote on walkout over pay as RCN boosts strike fund by £15m

Nurses set to vote on walkout over pay as RCN boosts strike fund by £15m Nurses will begin voting next month on whether to strike over pay in what would be the first walkout by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England and Wales.

The RCN is recommending hundreds of thousands of its members support industrial action in a ballot that opens on 15 September. Sky News

See also:

• Vote to strike: RCN members urged to support industrial action in strike ballot over NHS pay Royal College of Nursing
• Vote on pay by UK nurses raises prospect of first ever strike Financial Times
• NHS nurses told to ready for strike action after ‘years of underpayment and staff shortages’ Nursing Notes
• Nurses in England and Wales to vote on strike action over pay Reuters

What are the impending threats to the NHS this autumn?

What are the impending threats to the NHS this autumn? Explained: from Covid to dire workforce shortages, the health service faces a deepening crisis

The health secretary, Steve Barclay, has warned the NHS faces serious challenges this autumn. We take a look at the growing pressures on the healthcare system. The Guardian

See also:

• Cost of living crisis will add strain to ‘creaking’ NHS, experts warn The Guardian

DIY dentistry on the rise as 90% of NHS practices not seeing new patients

DIY dentistry on the rise as 90% of NHS practices not seeing new patients Incidents of DIY dentistry, including people using superglue to stick homemade teeth to their gums, are increasing across Britain as more than nine in 10 NHS dental practices are unable to offer appointments to new adult patients, the director of the Healthwatch England watchdog has warned. The Guardian

Getting more sun can reduce a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease, study finds

Getting more sun can reduce a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease, study finds Getting sun can do more than just boost your mood, as the vitamin D from natural light can even help prevent devastating conditions like diabetes and heart disease, a new study finds.

Researchers at the  University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute in Adelaide, found that people who received a proper amount of vitamin D were less likely to show markers of inflammation in blood tests. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Vitamin D deficiency and C-reactive protein: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study (open access) International Journal of Epidemiology

NHS is sending POLICE officers to heart attack callouts due to paramedic shortage

NHS is sending POLICE officers to heart attack callouts due to paramedic shortage The NHS is staring down the barrel of one of its worst winters on record with a triple whammy of Covid, flu and the cost of living crisis set to batter understaffed hospitals, the new Health Secretary warned today as it emerged police officers are being sent to ambulance callouts amid a paramedic shortage. The Daily Mail

Charities call for action as drug deaths more than double in Northamptonshire

Charities call for action as drug deaths more than double in Northamptonshire 
Drug-related deaths more than doubled in Northamptonshire last year, stark new figures show.

Northamptonshire Police is in the middle of a 12-week surge on its ‘Matters of Priority’ which includes focus on drug harm.

But charities have criticised the Government over a lack of action on drug deaths with experts calling the latest figures an “utter disgrace”. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Guidance on the preparation of integrated care strategies

Guidance on the preparation of integrated care strategies This guidance is aimed at integrated care partnerships. This document contains: an introduction, two sections of statutory guidance on the preparation of the integrated care strategy including involvement and content, a section of non-statutory guidance relating to the publication, and a review of the integrated care strategy. Department of Health and Social Care

Independent report: Single dose of HPV vaccine: JCVI concluding advice

Independent report: Single dose of HPV vaccine: JCVI concluding advice The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) concluding advice on a one-dose schedule for the human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme. Department of Health and Social Care

UK monkeypox case numbers begin to plateau

UK monkeypox case numbers begin to plateau The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest technical briefing, which shows early signs that the outbreak is plateauing.

As of 4 August, there are 2,859 confirmed and highly probable cases of monkeypox in the UK.

Analyses of the current UK outbreak shows that monkeypox continues to be transmitted primarily in interconnected sexual networks of gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). The median age of confirmed cases in the UK was 37 years old. In England, 73% are known to be London residents over the course of the outbreak. UK Health Security Agency

Covid infections continuing to fall around the UK

Covid infections continuing to fall around the UK Covid infections are continuing to fall in the UK, dropping by more than half a million in a week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Roughly 2.6 million people had the virus in the week to 26 July, compared to 3.2 million the previous week.

The number of people in hospital with the virus is also decreasing. BBC News

See also:

• Covid infection rates in England plunge by another fifth The Daily Mail
• Long Covid more common in people who are unemployed and not seeking work The Daily Mail

NHS demands cannot wait for new prime minister, says health secretary

NHS demands cannot wait for new prime minister, says health secretary The NHS in England cannot wait for a new prime minister to be in post to tackle the the emergency crisis it faces, the health secretary has warned.

Steve Barclay said hospitals could see "very serious challenges coming down the track" in the autumn and winter from flu and another Covid wave.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said he was preparing for "reasonable worst-case scenarios". BBC News

Extent of struggle to find NHS dentist revealed by far-reaching BBC research

Extent of struggle to find NHS dentist revealed by far-reaching BBC research Nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for treatment under the health service, a BBC investigation has found.

Our research shows no dentists taking on adult NHS patients could be found in a third of the UK's top-tier councils.

And eight in 10 NHS practices are not taking on children. BBC News

Infected blood scandal victims in line to get £100,000

Infected blood scandal victims in line to get £100,000 Payments of £100,000 will be made to victims of the contaminated blood scandal, the government is expected to announce this week.

Boris Johnson wants payments, recommended by a public inquiry, to be made to more than 4,000 survivors "as soon as possible", said Downing Street.

Thousands of people contracted HIV or hepatitis C in the 1970s and 80s through NHS treatments. BBC News

Archie Battersbee 'fought until the end', says mum after son dies

Archie Battersbee 'fought until the end', says mum after son dies Archie Battersbee, the 12-year-old who had been at the centre of a legal battle between his parents and doctors, has died.

His mother, Hollie Dance, said: "Such a beautiful little boy, and he fought right until the very end."

She said she was "the proudest mum in the world" as she spoke outside the Royal London Hospital in east London, where he died.

Her son's life support was withdrawn earlier on Saturday. BBC News

‘Difficult discussions’ as NHS faces shortage of childbirth pain relief

‘Difficult discussions’ as NHS faces shortage of childbirth pain relief The NHS has been hit by a shortage of epidural kits to give mothers-to-be, a key form of pain relief during childbirth, as well as the drug that women are offered as an alternative.

Supplies of epidural kits and the painkiller Remifentanil are now under such pressure that some hospitals cannot offer pregnant women their usual right to choose which one they want to reduce labour pains. The Guardian

See also:

• From PPE to cancer drugs: what has the NHS run low on in recent years? The Guardian

Outage of Advanced’s health and care solutions linked to cyber-attack

Outage of Advanced’s health and care solutions linked to cyber-attack A major outage across a number of health and care systems delivered by Advanced has been confirmed as being related to a cyber-attack.

On August 4, the business software and services provider experienced issues with a number of health and care products, including its Adastra software which works with 85% of NHS 111 services. Digital Health

See also:

• Major NHS computer outage caused by cyber attack BBC News
• NHS 111 suffers major cyber attack as staff resort to ‘pens and paper’ The Daily Telegraph
• NHS 111 expects delays after cyber-attack causes system outage The Guardian
• Ministers coordinate response after cyber-attack hits NHS 111 The Guardian
• NHS 111: Cyber-attack causes major IT systems outage The Independent
• NHS 111 hit by cyber attack leading to ‘major’ systems outage Nursing Notes

Monkeypox cases spreading into every region of the UK as vaccination campaign falters

Monkeypox cases spreading into every region of the UK as vaccination campaign falters Monkeypox cases are now spreading into every region of the country while the vaccination campaign against the virus is faltering, experts have warned.

When the virus – which causes painful blisters across the body – first arrived in the UK in May, the vast majority of infections were recorded in London. The Daily Mail

GP, 47, took her own life after 'unbearable pressure of the job finally got to her'

GP, 47, took her own life after 'unbearable pressure of the job finally got to her' A GP took her own life after the pressures of her job became 'overwhelming', her husband has said - as he paid tribute to a 'wonderful, beautiful and bananas wife, mother and doctor'. 

Dr Gail Milligan, a partner at Camberley Health Centre in Surrey, was found dead in woodland by a search team last week after she had been missing for nearly 24 hours. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GP suicide sparks calls for measures to protect doctors from spiraling workloads GPonline
• Surrey GP took her own life after her job 'became overwhelming' GPonline

Cancer charity to pull plug on research centres devoted to offering potentially life-saving drugs

Cancer charity to pull plug on research centres devoted to offering potentially life-saving drugs Britain’s leading cancer charity is pulling the plug on research centres devoted to offering patients potentially life-saving drugs, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Cancer Research UK funds eight clinical trial units where cancer patients across the country receive experimental medication, but insiders claim the charity is discussing shutting as many as half of them. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire Police to carry overdose life-saver drug Naloxone

Northamptonshire Police to carry overdose life-saver drug Naloxone Medication that can save the life of someone following a drugs overdose is to be carried by a police force's front line officers

The nasal spray Naloxone counters the effects of overdoses from drugs like heroin.

Northamptonshire Police said the number of drug-related deaths from synthetic opioids in the county was increasing. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Frontline police in Northampton and Kettering to carry life-saving spray after rise in drug overdoses Northamptonshire Telegraph

Patient-initiated follow-up: does it work, why it matters, and can it help the NHS recover?

Patient-initiated follow-up: does it work, why it matters, and can it help the NHS recover? The NHS’s elective recovery strategy includes a target of moving 5% of outpatient attendances to patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) pathways by March next year. But what exactly is PIFU? As the NHS prepares to scale it up nationally, Sarah Reed and Nadia Crellin explain more about what it is, the problems it could solve, and what is known so far about how well it works. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Patient-initiated follow-up: will it free up capacity in outpatient care? (report) Nuffield Trust

More of the same won't fix general practice

More of the same won't fix general practice In recent years it has become commonplace to describe general practice as being in a state of ‘crisis’. Staff are feeling ‘demonised and demoralised’, one in seven GP posts are vacant, and people are increasingly dissatisfied with services.

As a result, policy-makers are looking for levers they can pull to turn things round. The King's Fund

See also:

• How to make change happen in general practice The King's Fund

Long-term funding of adult social care

Long-term funding of adult social care This report examines the Government’s charging reforms and local government finance, unpaid carers and workforce challenges. It says the Government urgently needs to come forward with additional funding this year to help the adult social care sector meet immediate pressures, including inflation and unmet care needs. Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee

Expected ways of working between integrated care partnerships and adult social care providers

Expected ways of working between integrated care partnerships and adult social care providers This guidance was developed by the Department of Health and Social Care, Local Government Association and NHS England, in partnership with the Care Provider Alliance. It sets out a series of advisory principles for integrated care partnerships (ICPs) and adult social care (ASC) providers to guide their work together. It aims to ensure ASC providers are involved as essential partners, alongside commissioners, people with lived experiences of care or unpaid carers among others, in the work of the ICPs as they all have valuable perspectives to contribute to service planning across England. Department of Health and Social Care

Research: Direct and indirect health impacts of COVID-19 in England: emerging Omicron impacts

Research: Direct and indirect health impacts of COVID-19 in England: emerging Omicron impacts This paper assesses the direct and indirect health impacts of COVID-19 on the population in England, with a focus on the emerging Omicron impacts. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency

Growth in NHS recruits from abroad prompts concern about over-reliance

Growth in NHS recruits from abroad prompts concern about over-reliance The NHS in England is increasingly reliant on doctors and nurses recruited from outside the UK and EU, analysis has found.

Some 34% of doctors joining the health service last year came from overseas, a rise from 18% in 2014.

The government said overseas recruitment had always been part of its strategy.

But unions have warned it is an unsustainable way of recruiting in the long-term. BBC News

See also:

• Dependence on international doctors highlights workforce emergency in the NHS BMA

This Is Going To Hurt creator Adam Kay issues NHS suicide warning

This Is Going To Hurt creator Adam Kay issues NHS suicide warning Suicides among NHS staff are being "brushed under the carpet", the creator of This Is Going To Hurt has warned.

Former junior doctor Adam Kay, who based the hit BBC show on his memoir of the same name, planted a long-awaited tribute tree at Ealing Hospital, on Thursday.

The Shruti tree is the first national memorial to health workers. BBC News

See also:

• NHS suicides 'brushed under carpet', BBC show creator says as memorial unveiled Evening Standard
• NHS suicides ‘brushed under carpet’ creator of 'This Is Going To Hurt' says as memorial unveiled ITV News

LGBT groups demand more action on monkeypox

LGBT groups demand more action on monkeypox Sexual health charities and LGBT groups are calling for the government to step up efforts to control the monkeypox outbreak in the UK.

In an open letter to Health Secretary Steven Barclay, they say that without a quicker and wider vaccine rollout, the virus could become "endemic".

There have been more than 2,600 cases of monkeypox in the UK so far, mostly among men who have sex with men. BBC News

Archie Battersbee: Family seek permission for hospice move

Archie Battersbee: Family seek permission for hospice move The family of 12-year-old Archie Battersbee have sought legal permission to move him from the Royal London Hospital to a hospice.

The High Court is now considering the application, after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) refused a request to delay withdrawing treatment.

Archie's mother said she wanted her son "in a peaceful hospice to say goodbye".

Doctors have warned there is "significant risk" in moving him. BBC News

Tory leadership race: NHS bosses accuse Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak of having no solutions to fix crisis

Tory leadership race: NHS bosses accuse Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak of having no solutions to fix crisis Healthcare leaders have called for Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to come up with proper solutions to fix the NHS instead of offering "glib soundbites, gimmicks and political rhetoric". Sky News

See also:

• NHS leaders call for concrete proposals and realism in leadership contest NHS Confederation

Police racial bias played role in UK Covid fines regime, says report

Police racial bias played role in UK Covid fines regime, says report Researchers say institutional racism probably contributed to ‘differential approach’ to enforcement of powers

Bias in policing at least partly explains why minority ethnic people were more likely to receive fines for Covid breaches than their white counterparts, research says.

The study, seen by the Guardian, was based on in-depth interviews with officers who policed the streets. The officers spoke confidentially to academics from Liverpool University and served in forces in northern England, including Cheshire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Regulator tells private clinics to stop promoting £100 hayfever jab

Regulator tells private clinics to stop promoting £100 hayfever jab Watchdogs have today announced a clamp down on beauty clinics promoting £100 hay fever injections.

The decision comes after MailOnline revealed dozens of practices were advertising Kenalog — which was withdrawn by the NHS a decade ago for being too risky.

The powerful drug suppresses the immune system, dampening the allergic reaction hay fever sufferers experience. Its effects can last months. The Daily Mail

See also:

• MHRA and CAP take action against illegal ‘hayfever jab’ adverts online Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Loneliness and social isolation can increase risk of heart attack or stroke 30%

Loneliness and social isolation can increase risk of heart attack or stroke 30% Social isolation and loneliness throughout life can significantly increase a person's risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke - and with more people in America lonely than ever experts fear their could be a surge in these cases in the future. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Effects of Objective and Perceived Social Isolation on Cardiovascular and Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (open access) Journal of the American Heart Association

NHS crisis: How many doctors, nurses and midwives are there at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital?

NHS crisis: How many doctors, nurses and midwives are there at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital? The NHS is in crisis, with a shortage of doctors, nurses and midwives crippling the health service across England.

We have taken a look at NHS figures for Northamptonshire’s two acute NHS hospitals to see how the workforce has changed in recent years, as the crisis across the country deepened. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chart of the week: staff vacancies and shortfalls in the NHS

Chart of the week: staff vacancies and shortfalls in the NHS After last week’s cross-party parliamentary report on the NHS and social care workforce painted a bleak picture on staffing vacancies, Billy Palmer describes how the word “vacancy” does not always reveal the full extent of the problem. He shows how more detailed data on nurses and midwives allows us to look at all the reasons for staffing gaps – not just a failure to recruit. Nuffield Trust

The health and care system is in crisis: what should (and shouldn't) be done?

The health and care system is in crisis: what should (and shouldn't) be done? Covid-19 represented a historic challenge to our health and care services as it did to the country as a whole. As it has receded (but alas not disappeared), it is increasingly clear that the threat of Covid has been replaced by a more intractable crisis affecting almost all aspects of the NHS, social care along with all those working in, or depending upon, health and care. Any hopes of a quick recovery post-Covid are well and truly sunk. The King's Fund

Action to Decarbonize the U.S. Health Care System: Lessons from the U.K.’s National Health Service

Action to Decarbonize the U.S. Health Care System: Lessons from the U.K.’s National Health Service The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) is the world’s first health care system to commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Here we examine the history and status of the NHS efforts and identify lessons for the U.S. health care system. The Commonwealth Fund

Engaging and supporting marginalised communities, supporting earlier diagnosis of cancer, and improving CVD diagnosis and prevention: learning from the community response to Covid-19

Engaging and supporting marginalised communities, supporting earlier diagnosis of cancer, and improving CVD diagnosis and prevention: learning from the community response to Covid-19 This report focusses on real-world examples of how the NHS is collaborating with communities to meet their statutory obligations and addressing health inequalities. Health Creation Alliance

National commissioning guidance for post Covid services

National commissioning guidance for post Covid services This guidance document informs the commissioning of post Covid services in England. It aims to assist local health care systems to plan and deliver services that meet the varied and often complex needs of people living with long Covid. NHS England

Dentistry in England

Dentistry in England An overview of NHS dentistry in England, including a discussion of current challenges facing providers and the Government response. House of Commons Library

Junior doctors' pay offer concerns hospital leaders

Junior doctors' pay offer concerns hospital leaders Hospital leaders are concerned by the government's decision not to offer junior doctors in England the same pay rise as other NHS staff.

Junior doctors are entitled to a 2% annual pay rise as part of a four-year deal but other staff are getting 4.5%.

NHS Providers, representing trusts in England, says this undermines morale in an already overstretched workforce.

The Department of Health and Social Care says junior doctors' pay will be looked at next year. BBC News

Pig organs partially revived hour after death

Pig organs partially revived hour after death Pig organs have been partially revived an hour after the animals were killed, in a breakthrough with the potential to transform medicine, say US researchers.

The technique could increase the number of organs available for transplant and buy doctors more time to save a life if applied to people. BBC News

See also:

• Cellular recovery after prolonged warm ischaemia of the whole body (open access) Nature

Patrick Vallance: One of government's chief Covid advisers is stepping down

Patrick Vallance: One of government's chief Covid advisers is stepping down The government's chief scientific adviser, who helped steer the UK through the pandemic, is stepping down.

Sir Patrick Vallance's five-year term ends in April. His successor has not yet been announced.

In June, he was honoured at Buckingham Palace for his work updating the public on the Covid-19 virus, regularly appearing alongside the prime minister at televised briefings. BBC News

COVID and social media pressures driving surge in mental health problems, say doctors

COVID and social media pressures driving surge in mental health problems, say doctors A combination of the pandemic and social media pressures is driving a surge in mental health problems, including eating disorders, among young people.

One NHS trust in west London said referrals to its children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) had increased by 140%. Sky News

NHS fails to hit key backlog target: Ministers admit two-year waits WEREN'T scrapped by July

NHS fails to hit key backlog target: Ministers admit two-year waits WEREN'T scrapped by July The NHS hasn't completely eliminated its waiting list of patients who have been stuck in the system for over two years, despite the Government's bold promise.

Under the Covid recovery plan, ex-Health Secretary Sajid Javid stated 'no-one' in England would be waiting more than 24 months for treatment such as hip and knee ops by July.

But Health Minister Maria Caulfield has since admitted that 'a small number of patients' were still waiting beyond two years by the end of last month. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Update imminent on NHS commitment to tackle waiting lists NHS Confederation
• 'Stalinist' targets are stifling the NHS, warns Jeremy Hunt The Daily Telegraph
• Ministers admit they will break NHS pledge on hospital waiting times The Guardian

Giving HPV jab to women with pre-cancerous cells on their cervix may ward off cancer, study suggests

Giving HPV jab to women with pre-cancerous cells on their cervix may ward off cancer, study suggests Giving women with pre-cancerous cells on their cervix the HPV vaccine could cut their risk of developing cervical cancer, scientists say.

Imperial College London experts reviewed studies involving thousands of women vaccinated against HPV who had to have pre-cancerous cells removed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Role of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on HPV infection and recurrence of HPV related disease after local surgical treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis (open access) The BMJ
• HPV jab ‘may ward off cervical cancer in women with pre-cancerous cells’ The Independent

Study: Therapy sessions may be key to drug-free treatment for chronic back pain

Study: Therapy sessions may be key to drug-free treatment for chronic back pain A new drug-free treatment that 'retrains' the brain can offer better long-term relief from back pain than opioids, a study has suggested.

Patients saw significant improvements after the 12-week course, which consisted of one hour with a physiotherapist each week.

Dr Neil O’Connell, who worked on the trial at Brunel University, London, said: 'These results show real promise.' The Daily Mail

See also:

• Effect of Graded Sensorimotor Retraining on Pain Intensity in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial (abstract) Journal of the American Medical Association

A guide to the Health and Care Act 2022

A guide to the Health and Care Act 2022 This briefing sets out an overview of proposals and a summary of the key parts of the Bill. It picks out the main provisions relevant to providers and systems and looks at the secondary legislation that will flow from the Act. NHS Providers

NHS To roll out life-changing glucose monitors to all Type 1 diabetes patients

NHS To roll out life-changing glucose monitors to all Type 1 diabetes patients NHS England patients with Type 1 diabetes will now be eligible for life-changing continuous glucose monitors after the health service secured a new cut-price deal.

The wearable arm gadget sends information to a mobile app and allows diabetes patients to keep track of their glucose levels at all times without having to scan or take a finger prick test.

Research: Monkeypox outbreak: epidemiological overview

Research: Monkeypox outbreak: epidemiological overview Overview of the current monkeypox outbreak in the UK. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UK Health Security Agency

Monkeypox symptoms 'different from past outbreaks'

Monkeypox symptoms 'different from past outbreaks' Pustules have been recognised as the main symptom of monkeypox cases in the past, but in the current outbreak 'rarer and more notable pseudo-pustules' are the main symptom, according to Spanish research.

The pseudo-pustules - which can lead to ulcers - are very rarely seen in other conditions and could help identify monkeypox cases more rapidly. GPonline

See also:

• Monkeypox outbreak in Spain: clinical and epidemiological findings in a prospective cross-sectional study of 185 cases (open access) British Journal of Dermatology
• Over 100,000 monkeypox vaccines procured, government says BBC News
• Monkeypox could signal dawn of a new STI in men as ‘uncontrolled’ global spread continues The Daily Telegraph
• Monkeypox: are we reacting fast enough to the crisis? (podcast) The Guardian

Three types of long COVID identified with different symptoms

Three types of long COVID identified with different symptoms There appear to be three different types of long COVID, each with their own symptoms, researchers have discovered.

One group experiences neurological symptoms including fatigue, brain fog and headache, which most often affect those who contracted the virus when the Alpha and Delta variants were most prevalent, according to experts at King's College London. Sky News

See also:

• Profiling post-COVID syndrome across different variants of SARS-CoV-2 (open access) medRxiv
• Three types of long-COVID for people experiencing symptoms for 12 weeks or more King's College London
• Covid-19 deaths rise for fifth week in a row but levels remain low The Independent
• New top Covid symptom in patients revealed by latest data as infections surge across UK The Independent
• Long Covid: Three types of virus revealed but what are the symptoms? ITV News
• Memory problems after covid-19 more common in people with smell loss New Scientist

Cases like Archie Battersbee’s rely on complex ethical decisions. This is how they’re made | Mehrunisha Suleman

Cases like Archie Battersbee’s rely on complex ethical decisions. This is how they’re made | Mehrunisha Suleman UK courts have once again had to rule on an incredibly fraught case about the withdrawal of life support from a child: 12-year-old Archie Battersbee was found in an unconscious state by his mother on 7 April this year and never regained consciousness. The clinical team at Barts Health NHS trust viewed that it would not be in Archie’s best interests for him to continue to receive medical intervention. Archie’s parents disagreed, and sought the court’s support to have medical intervention continued. The court of appeal has ruled that it is legal for the medical team to withdraw his life support, and the supreme court has dismissed the family’s final appeal. The Guardian

See also:

• Archie Battersbee: Who decides when life support ends? BBC News
• Archie Battersbee: Family loses appeal to Supreme Court BBC News
• Archie Battersbee: Parents to take case to European Court of Human Rights BBC News
• Archie Battersbee: how third parties can further complicate tragic life support cases The Guardian
• Archie Battersbee’s life support ‘ending at 11am’ after Supreme Court appeal fails The Independent
• Archie Battersbee's family want to take Southend youngster to hospice for 'last couple of days' ITV News
• Archie Battersbee's family in fresh bid to delay withdrawal of life support Sky News

Junk food advertising restrictions prevent almost 100000 obesity cases and is expected to save the NHS £200m

Junk food advertising restrictions prevent almost 100000 obesity cases and is expected to save the NHS £200m A restriction on junk food advertising across the Transport for London (TfL) network in 2019, has resulted in 94,867 fewer cases of obesity, 2,857 cases of diabetes prevented or delayed, and 1,915 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease. University of Sheffield

See also:

• The health, cost and equity impacts of restrictions on the advertisement of high fat, salt and sugar products across the transport for London network: a health economic modelling study (open access) International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

How do we turn the bold ambition of a net-zero NHS into reality?

How do we turn the bold ambition of a net-zero NHS into reality? Cameron Hawkins, Head of Energy and Environment at NHS Property Services (NHSPS), provides an update on a net-zero NHS and explores how we turn this bold ambition into reality. Open Access Government

See also: 

• England's deputy CNO sets out ambitions for the green agenda Nursing Times

Regulation, reform and services under pressure

Regulation, reform and services under pressure This report outlines key findings from a survey of trust leaders on their experiences on regulation in the last twelve months. It finds that trusts expressed strong support for the policy direction being taken by regulators. An overwhelming majority supported the Care Quality Commission’s planned shift towards a more risk-based approach, data monitoring, and its intention to update ratings more frequently. Also, a majority of trusts were supportive of the collaboration and system focus seen in NHS England and NHS Improvement’s new system oversight framework and its oversight metrics. However, trusts did not report experiencing the benefits of this shift in strategic direction in practice. Trust leaders reported an increase in the regulatory burden and the number of ad-hoc requests from regulators over the past year. NHS Providers

The impact of body image on mental and physical health

The impact of body image on mental and physical health The Government must speed up the introduction of a promised licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures to prevent vulnerable people being exploited says a new report. The Impact of body image on mental and physical health report identifies a rise in body image dissatisfaction as the driver behind a new market that to date has remained largely unregulated. The dangers posed by non-surgical cosmetic procedures in vulnerable groups were evident throughout the inquiry, say MPs. Health and Social Care Select Committee 

See also:

• Make body-image warnings on retouched photos the law, MPs say BBC News

NHS launches awareness campaign for England’s most deadly cancer

NHS launches awareness campaign for England’s most deadly cancer The NHS is encouraging people with symptoms such as a long-standing persistent cough, to visit their GP for potentially lifesaving checks in its latest campaign to catch lung cancer earlier when it is easier to treat.

The launch of the latest Help Us Help You campaign, on World Lung Cancer Day, comes after figures suggest that people at risk of lung cancer may not be coming forward for care despite lung cancer being the biggest cause of cancer deaths in England. NHS England

NHS boosts children’s mental health workforce by 40%

NHS boosts children’s mental health workforce by 40% Thousands more NHS staff are now working in children’s mental health services, as demand for support continues to rise.

Around 4,500 more people have joined the NHS children’s mental health services in England – 40% more than before the pandemic. NHS England

Archie Battersbee: Judges reject allowing more time for UN to consider case

Archie Battersbee: Judges reject allowing more time for UN to consider case A last-minute Court of Appeal hearing has ruled the withdrawal of life support for Archie Battersbee should not be postponed beyond Tuesday.

The government asked judges to urgently consider a request from a UN committee to keep treating the 12-year-old.

The Court of Appeal refused to postpone the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment beyond 12:00 on Tuesday. BBC News

Conjoined twins separated with the help of virtual reality

Conjoined twins separated with the help of virtual reality Brazilian twins who were joined at the head have been successfully separated with the help of virtual reality.

Three-year-olds Bernardo and Arthur Lima underwent surgeries in Rio de Janeiro, with direction from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

The teams spent months trialling techniques using virtual reality projections of the twins, based on CT and MRI scans. BBC News

More than 1m people in England waiting for non-hospital care, leak reveals

More than 1m people in England waiting for non-hospital care, leak reveals Some of those waiting for community health services are facing delays as long as 120 weeks

More than 1 million people are waiting months, and sometimes years, for out-of-hospital care for back pain, foot problems and hearing loss, a leaked NHS England document reveals.

While most of those waiting are adults, almost 300,0000 of them are children and young people who are seeking help with problems such as delayed development and long-term conditions. The Guardian

See also:

• NHSE leak reveals 1m patients on hidden waiting list (log in required) Health Service Journal
• NHS urged to routinely publish non-hospital waiting lists The Independent

How 12-hour A&E waits may be up to SIX TIMES more common than NHS makes out

How 12-hour A&E waits may be up to SIX TIMES more common than NHS makes out The number of patients waiting at least 12 hours in A&E units is six times than official statistics show, it emerged today.

Currently, health bosses only divulge data on 'trolley waits' — the time between medics deciding a patient needs to be admitted and when they actually are given a bed.

This drastically underplays the scale of the NHS casualty crisis, given that patients may have arrived hours before their condition was deemed serious enough for further treatment. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Trusts reveal thousands of new 12-hour waits (log in required) Health Service Journal
• Revealed: ‘Apocalyptic’ A&E waits that could be driving 1,000 patient deaths a month The Independent

RCM union ballots maternity nurses over potential walkout after 'insulting' £1,400 pay rise

RCM union ballots maternity nurses over potential walkout after 'insulting' £1,400 pay rise The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is consulting its members in England and Wales over possible strike action after reacting angrily to a proposed £1,400 pay rise.

The College says it wants to know whether its members are prepared to vote for industrial action if balloted.

The RCM's member consultation opens as new NHS Digital workforce statistics show midwife numbers are down by over 600 in the year to April 2022. The Daily Mail

See also:

• RCM launches consultation with members to gauge appetite for industrial action over pay Royal College of Midwives

‘Huge relief’ for Northampton charity after council awarded funding to cover rental costs for one year

‘Huge relief’ for Northampton charity after council awarded funding to cover rental costs for one year A Northampton charity providing support to patients undergoing cancer treatment will have their rent covered by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) for one year.

NHS pay awards 2022-2023: analysis and next steps

NHS pay awards 2022-2023: analysis and next steps On 19 July 2022, Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced the NHS pay awards for the current financial year. This briefing sets out what has been announced for each staff group, and the work which NHS Providers will be taking forwards on this matter. NHS Providers

Heads Up: Rethinking mental health services for vulnerable young people

Heads Up: Rethinking mental health services for vulnerable young people The Commission on Young Lives has published its fourth thematic report, 'Heads Up: Rethinking mental health services for vulnerable young people'. The report looks at the growing crisis of mental health problems among children and young people in England and puts forward ambitious and innovative proposals to redesign young people's mental health services, particularly for those young people at risk of harm.

See also:

• £1bn needed to speed up mental health care for UK children, report says The Guardian
• Children needing NHS mental health services ‘must be seen in four weeks’ The Independent

Obesity, deprivation and Covid-19: why rowing back on the obesity strategy could prove to be a costly error

Obesity, deprivation and Covid-19: why rowing back on the obesity strategy could prove to be a costly error In an effort to reverse rising obesity rates and widening health inequalities, the government launched its flagship obesity strategy in 2020 and pledged a 'war on obesity'. Now our analysis of new data suggests it is a 'war' that the government is losing. The King's Fund

Building the right support for people with a learning disability and autistic people action plan

Building the right support for people with a learning disability and autistic people action plan The Building the right support for people with a learning disability and autistic people action plan brings together into one document key elements from existing reports, recommendations and announcements from across government and public services aimed at improving care and support for people with a learning disability and autistic people, to provide a clear view as to what must be delivered.

This briefing summarises the action plan, with a particular focus on the key commitments and timescales for delivery in each of the chapters and sets out NHS Providers’ view.

Covid infections on the way down again across the UK

Covid infections on the way down again across the UK Covid infections are on the way down in the UK, dropping by more than half a million in a week, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

An estimated 3.2 million people had the virus in the week up to 20 July, compared to 3.8 million the week before.

Hospital cases are also decreasing. BBC News

See also:

• New Zealand fully reopens borders after long pandemic closure BBC News
• Doctors demand NHS funds Covid drug to protect vulnerable patients who don't respond to vaccines The Daily Mail
• Latest UK Covid wave past peak as infections fall by half a million in a week The Guardian
• Covid: Families facing ‘postcode lottery’ of care home ‘lockdown’ restrictions The Independent
• 'Living with COVID': Where the pandemic could go next Reuters

Archie Battersbee: Last-minute hearing to be held over treatment

Archie Battersbee: Last-minute hearing to be held over treatment The Court of Appeal is to hold a last-minute hearing in the case of Archie Battersbee - hours before doctors are due to withdraw life support.

The government asked judges to urgently consider a request from a United Nations committee to keep treating the 12-year-old while it examines the case. BBC News

‘Not the answer’: Rishi Sunak’s plan to fine patients £10 for missing appointments under fire

‘Not the answer’: Rishi Sunak’s plan to fine patients £10 for missing appointments under fire Rishi Sunak’s proposal to introduce a temporary £10 fine for patients that miss NHS appointments would exacerbate health inequalities and likely make the backlog “worse”, a major union has warned.

Unveiling the policy, the former chancellor, who is struggling to revitalise his bid for No 10 against rival Liz Truss, said the NHS is “meant to be free at the point of use, not free at the point of misuse”. The Independent

See also:

• Charging patients for missed appointments is not the answer to tackling the NHS backlog British Medical Association
• NHS Confederation responds to proposals to fine patients for missed appointments NHS Confederation
• Rishi Sunak pledges NHS no-show fines as Liz Truss vows school reform BBC News
• Rishi Sunak pins leadership hopes on plans to introduce £10 fine for people who miss doctor and hospital appointments, railing against 'healthcare free at the point of m
• misuse The Daily Mail
• Rishi Sunak's £10 fine for patients who miss NHS appointments would only 'make matters worse' The Daily Mail
• £10 fine for an NHS no-show, says Rishi Sunak The Daily Telegraph
• NHS would spend 'more money chasing £10 fines for missed appointments than it would receive' The Daily Telegraph
• Rishi Sunak wants £10 fines for missing GP and hospital appointments Metro
• Sunak to fine patients £10 for missed appointments if elected Nursing Notes

MPs demand end to repayment clauses in contracts of overseas health workers

MPs demand end to repayment clauses in contracts of overseas health workers Employment conditions can tie staff to roles for up to five years and impose fees of £14,000 for an early return home

The NHS must halt the use of “repayment clauses” in contracts for international healthcare workers, MPs have said.

Members of the Commons health and social care committee came to this finding after an Observer investigation in March revealed how some workers were being forced to pay thousands of pounds if they wish to quit their jobs before their agreed contract ends. The Guardian

UK government urged to compensate infected blood victims immediately

UK government urged to compensate infected blood victims immediately Pressure is growing for government to compensate victims of the contaminated blood scandal immediately.

The chair of the contaminated blood inquiry on Friday called for the victims and their families to be paid “without delay” after he recommended the level of interim compensation payments. Sir Brian Langstaff said infected people and bereaved partners should be given “payments of no less than £100,000”. The Guardian

See also:

• Ex-health secretaries call for urgent blood scandal pay-outs BBC News
• Blood scandal victims need quick payouts - lawyer BBC News
• Infected blood victims set for £400m in compensation BBC News
• Infected blood inquiry: victims should receive £100,000 each ‘without delay’ The Guardian

Bladder cancer patients who are too frail for chemo offered hope as health chiefs approve drug

Bladder cancer patients who are too frail for chemo offered hope as health chiefs approve drug Thousands of NHS patients with deadly bladder cancer are set to benefit from a drug that offers fresh hope of a cure.

In a milestone ruling, UK health chiefs have approved nivolumab for sufferers who are too frail to withstand treatments such as chemotherapy.

Doctors usually give a course of chemotherapy after removing bladder tumours to kill off any remaining cancer cells. The Daily Mail

Fears for safety of pregnant women as NHS data shows record number of midwives quit due to stress

Fears for safety of pregnant women as NHS data shows record number of midwives quit due to stress Midwife numbers are reaching a dangerous level which could put lives at risk, as records show more staff leaving than joining the profession for the first time in a decade.

As a record number suffer burnout and leave, the figures from NHS Digital for 2021/22 show almost 300 more staff abandoned midwifery than joined the service, with 3,440 leaving and only 3,144 coming in. The Daily Mail

Waiting for NHS hospital care: the role of the independent sector

Waiting for NHS hospital care: the role of the independent sector Waiting times for planned hospital care in England were worsening before the start of the pandemic, and things have now got considerably worse. The waiting list grew by almost 50% to 6.4 million by March 2022 and for the people waiting, the median wait had increased from 7.5 weeks to 12.0 weeks. The Health Foundation

Saving brains: save brains, save money, change lives

Saving brains: save brains, save money, change lives This report warns that, if the thrombectomy rate stays at 2020/21 levels, 47,112 stroke patients in England would miss out on the acute stroke treatment, mechanical thrombectomy, over the length of the newly revised NHS Long Term Plan. It finds that this year, NHS England missed its original target to make mechanical thrombectomy available to all patients for whom it would benefit – only delivering to 28 per cent of all suitable patients by December 2021. It calls for a 24/7 thrombectomy service, which could cost up to £400 million. However the report calculates that treating all suitable strokes with thrombectomy would save the NHS £73 million per year. Stroke Association

The impact of the pandemic on population health and health inequalities

The impact of the pandemic on population health and health inequalities This report looks at the impact of the pandemic on population health and health inequalities in the UK. It discusses how the pandemic has affected the nation’s physical and mental health, as well as social determinants of health such as education and employment. The report aims to pay particular attention to inequalities and how these pandemic effects were distributed. It also looks at the positive lessons that can be learned from the vaccine rollout and efforts to tackle homelessness. British Medical Association

See also:

• Obesity, deprivation and Covid-19 The King's Fund
• Government's slow COVID-19 response worsened health inequalities, warns BMA GPonline

The public health response by UK governments to Covid-19

The public health response by UK governments to Covid-19 This report examines the approaches and key decisions taken by UK governments during the pandemic and the public health measures they introduced. It assesses whether these choices were timely, appropriate, and proportionate to deal with the threat and impact of Covid-19. British Medical Association

NHS sets out long COVID action plan for thousands of people with persistent symptom

NHS sets out long COVID action plan for thousands of people with persistent symptom Patients with long-lasting symptoms from COVID will have access to more convenient tests and checks closer to home, under new NHS measures announced today.

Specialist clinics, dedicated to long COVID, will now be able to send people for tests at local one stop shops and mobile clinics, rather than people going back to their GP practice for multiple different tests.

Backed by an additional £90 million investment, the updated long COVID plan includes ambitions for all patients to have an initial assessment within six weeks to ensure they are diagnosed and treated quickly. NHS England

See also:

• Health leaders welcome Long Covid Action Plan but further detail needed NHS Confederation
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency

Heart gene therapy to remove young sudden death risk

Heart gene therapy to remove young sudden death risk Scientists say they should soon be able to effectively cure inherited, life-threatening heart muscle conditions to save more young people from sudden cardiac death.

The British Heart Foundation has pledged £30m to the gene researchers who believe they can correct faulty DNA responsible for the damage.

Cardiomyopathies can kill without warning. BBC News

NHS to close Tavistock gender identity clinic for children

NHS to close Tavistock gender identity clinic for children The NHS is shutting down its gender identity clinic for children at the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust after it was criticised in an independent review.

Regional centres would be set up to replace the service and “ensure the holistic needs” of patients are fully met, NHS England said, after being warned that only having one provider was “not a safe or viable long-term option”. The Guardian

See also:

• Regional model for gender care announced for children and young people The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
• NHS to close Tavistock child gender identity clinic BBC News
• NHS faces crackdown on giving puberty blockers to children as Tavistock clinic is shut down The Daily Telegraph
• Tavistock gender identity clinic is closing: what happens next? The Guardian
• Tavistock clinic: Failing gender service for children to be replaced by local hubs The Independent

Mystery over spike in Covid deaths on hottest day of the year: Virus fatalities doubled in 40C heat

Mystery over spike in Covid deaths on hottest day of the year: Virus fatalities doubled in 40C heat Covid deaths spiked on the hottest day ever in what experts say could be the first sign of a surge in heatwave fatalities.

Official figures show 258 people with the virus died on July 19 in England — the same day the mercury hit 40.2C (104.4F). The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid in China: Million in lockdown in Wuhan after four cases BBC News
• Rise of Omicron subvariants sends UK staff absence soaring The Guardian
• When will Covid really be over? Three things that will mark the end of the pandemic The Guardian
• What is ‘Centaurus’? Fast-spreading Covid variant that has arrived in UK as cases soar The Independent
• NHS staff with 'disabling conditions' after COVID-19 should be able to claim benefits, say government advisers The Pharmaceutical Journal
• Serious self-harm in young people jumped during strict COVID-19 lockdowns - study Sky News

England's 'deadly' GP crisis deepens: Staff numbers fall to lowest level on record

England's 'deadly' GP crisis deepens: Staff numbers fall to lowest level on record The number of qualified GPs has dropped to its lowest level on record and just one in four family doctors work full time, according to official data that highlights the 'catastrophic' crisis in general practice.

There were around 27,500 fully-qualified, permanent family doctors working for NHS England last month, down from about 28,000 in June 2021 and 1,500 fewer than five years ago. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Patients per GP up 3% in a year as workforce slumps by over 440 GPonline
• General practice is 'chronically overstretched and haemorrhaging doctors' GPonline

Vitamin D supplements do NOT help elderly people avoid bone fractures

Vitamin D supplements do NOT help elderly people avoid bone fractures Taking vitamin D supplements every day does not help a person avoid bone fractures, a major study suggests — contradicting years of medical advice that said otherwise.

Researchers led by Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, found that people who used the supplements were no less likely to suffer bone fractures than those who did not. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Supplemental Vitamin D and Incident Fractures in Midlife and Older Adults (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine

Northamptonshire health officials urge a return to mask wearing

Northamptonshire health officials urge a return to mask wearing Public health officials in an area with rising rates of Covid-19 have urged residents to "return to mask wearing" in public indoor spaces.

Councils in Northamptonshire warned increased mixing during the summer holidays could increase case numbers.

The directors of public health in the county said they were concerned about rates in over-60s and pressure on health services. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Northamptonshire's health chiefs 'strongly recommend' return of face masks in shops, public transport and entertainment venues Northamptonshire Telegraph

A tale of two hospitals: the pandemic and its aftermath in Berlin and London

A tale of two hospitals: the pandemic and its aftermath in Berlin and London The pandemic challenged every health care system in the world. But what can we learn from one another in the way we responded, and how we might improve for future threats? 

In this episode we look up close at the experience of two large academic teaching hospitals embedded in two different health care systems – the Charité in Berlin, Germany’s largest teaching hospital, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, one of the UK’s largest. 

How do these two health care systems compare when dealing with the pandemic and its aftermath? And what can we learn? (podcast) The Health Foundation

Menopause and the workplace

Menopause and the workplace Employers' lack of support for menopausal symptoms is pushing 'highly skilled and experienced' women out of work, with knock-on effects on the gender pay gap, pension gap and the number of women in senior leadership positions. In a new report published today, the cross-party House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee calls on the Government to act, amending the Equality Act to introduce menopause as a protected characteristic, and to include a duty for employers to provide reasonable adjustments for menopausal employees.

See also:

• Working women need greater menopause rights - MPs BBC News
• 'Menopause leave' for women at work? Ministers told to step in as many receive 'little support' The Daily Mail
• Menopause should be ‘protected by law just like race and religion’ The Daily Telegraph
• MPs call for menopause to be protected characteristic in UK Equality Act The Guardian
• Lack of support for menopausal women driving them out of jobs, warn MPs The Independent

NHS leaders warn that social care workforce crisis risks patient safety

NHS leaders warn that social care workforce crisis risks patient safety NHS leaders across England say staffing gaps and a lack of capacity in social care are putting the care and safety of patients in the NHS at risk.

Almost 250 NHS leaders responding to an NHS Confederation survey say that patients are being delayed in hospital much longer than they should, with the knock-on impact resulting in higher demand on A&E departments and longer ambulance response times.

See also:

• System on a cliff edge: addressing challenges in social care capacity (report) NHS Confederation

Accelerating the pace and scale of action on health inequalities and population health

Accelerating the pace and scale of action on health inequalities and population health The NHS Confederation and Novartis UK have engaged a range of leaders from across integrated care systems (ICSs) in England, with a focus on accelerating the pace and scale of action on health inequalities and population health.

Guidance: Public health impact of drought: advice for the public

Guidance: Public health impact of drought: advice for the public Information on the potential health impacts of drought in England and the measures that people can take to stay healthy during these events. UK Health Security Agency

Fourth patient seemingly cured of HIV

Fourth patient seemingly cured of HIV A man who has lived with HIV since the 1980s seems to have been cured in only the fourth such case, say doctors.

He was given a bone marrow transplant to treat blood cancer leukaemia from a donor who was naturally resistant to the virus.

The 66-year-old, who does not want to be identified, has stopped taking HIV medication. BBC News

See also:

• 'City of Hope' patient, 66, is cured of HIV after receiving dangerous stem cell treatment The Daily Mail
• Oldest patient yet cured of HIV after stem cell transplant – researchers Reuters
• Fourth patient in history seemingly cured of HIV after stem cell transplant Sky News

Guy's and St Thomas': Hospital in meltdown over IT issues - whistleblower

Guy's and St Thomas': Hospital in meltdown over IT issues - whistleblower A whistleblower has warned a London hospital is "literally in meltdown" after its IT system was knocked out during last week's heatwave.

Operations at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in Lambeth were cancelled after its IT servers broke down in 40C (104F) temperatures on 19 July.

A doctor told the BBC "poor planning" and "chronic underfunding" meant issues remained a week later. BBC News

See also:

• Some systems back online but Guy’s and St Thomas’ IT issues continue Digital Health

Health Secretary Stephen Barclay issues plea for blood donors as supplies run low

Health Secretary Stephen Barclay issues plea for blood donors as supplies run low An urgent plea for blood donors to come forward has been issued by the health secretary as stocks required to carry out critical operations run low.

Steve Barclay said the NHS is running on three-and-half days' worth of blood reserves - whereas it normally aims to hold six days. Sky News

GPs to refer long Covid patients to 'one-stop-shops' under NHS England plan

GPs to refer long Covid patients to 'one-stop-shops' under NHS England plan An action plan to support patients with long Covid symptoms within six weeks – while reducing related GP workload – has been announced today by NHS England.

The plan, promised by a health minister for spring, will allow GPs as well as specialist long Covid clinics to refer patients for tests and checks at local one-stop-shops and mobile clinics, and is intended to prevent people having to go back to their GP practice for multiple different tests. Pulse

See also:

• UK scientists take ‘promising’ step towards single Covid and cold vaccine The Guardian
• Covid study finds millions have long-term smell or taste problems The Guardian
• Number of Covid-19 hospital patients in England shows signs of falling The Independent