Covid infections in UK continue to fall

Covid infections in UK continue to fall The number of people infected with coronavirus in the UK is continuing to fall, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.

Its latest data estimates 1.7 million people - about one in 40 of us - would have tested positive two weeks ago.

That is down significantly from 3.5 million in early July and school holidays may be part of the reason. BBC News

See also:

• Covid infections continue to subside with just 1.4million infected in England last week (one in 40) The Daily Mail
• The worst of Covid is over for most of us, but it still lingers for those with learning disabilities | Sonia Sodha The Guardian
• ‘Covid is over’ idea may threaten booster uptake in England, scientists warn The Guardian
• Real-world study details average duration of infectiousness for COVID-19 Imperial College London
• New study reveals when people with Covid are infectious and for how long The Independent
• First real-world study gives detailed new insights into when people with COVID are infectious Sky News
• Onset and window of SARS-CoV-2 infectiousness and temporal correlation with symptom onset: a prospective, longitudinal, community cohort study (open access) The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

Monkeypox cases declining - particularly in London

Monkeypox cases declining - particularly in London New cases of monkeypox appear to be reducing with just 20 people a day becoming infected, UK health officials say.

In a report on the virus, they say the epidemic in London has declined since mid-July and is now the same size as in the rest of the country.

UK vaccine supplies are set to run out until a new delivery arrives sometime in September. BBC News

See also:

• UK monkeypox case numbers show overall decline UK Health Security Agency

Minimise A&E use this winter amid 'substantial' pressure on the NHS, public to be asked - Evening Standard

Minimise A&E use this winter amid 'substantial' pressure on the NHS, public to be asked Health chiefs are preparing to launch a public awareness campaign encouraging people to reduce A&E usage in a bid to protect the NHS from collapse this winter, according to reports.

In a letter to staff, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said winter planning has begun earlier than usual as the “pressure on the NHS is likely to be substantial, particularly in urgent and emergency care”. Evening Standard

UK energy bills crisis could set back health equality by decades, say experts

UK energy bills crisis could set back health equality by decades, say experts A  failure to tackle soaring energy bills could set back health equality by decades and see the NHS faced with a “humanitarian crisis” of people unable to keep warm or eat properly, NHS leaders and public health experts have warned.

With one help service receiving calls from almost 100 people in a single day who had had their power disconnected, there are fears that many clinically vulnerable people could die or be forced to stay in hospital because it is unsafe to send them back to a freezing home. The Guardian

See also:

• Could the energy crisis cause a public health emergency? NHS Confederation
• GPs could prescribe money off energy bills under Treasury plan The Guardian
• GPs reject Treasury plan for them to prescribe money off energy bills The Guardian
• Government ‘has lost the plot’ over plan for GPs to prescribe heating bill discounts The Independent
• NHS bosses warn soaring energy bills will make people sick if government does not offer more support ITV News

Overseas hiring spree planned for care homes in England amid winter fears

Overseas hiring spree planned for care homes in England amid winter fears Foreign workers could be recruited for care homes in England amid concerns about staff shortages this winter, under government plans.

The health secretary, Steve Barclay, wants the overseas recruitment spree to include sending NHS managers to countries such as India and the Philippines to hire thousands of nurses, the Times reported. The Guardian

Prescribing e-cigarettes on the NHS could help up to 40% of smokers quit, study claims

Prescribing e-cigarettes on the NHS could help up to 40% of smokers quit, study claims Dishing out vapes on the NHS can help even 'hardened' cigarette smokers quit, researchers say.

A pilot scheme saw more than 300 traditional smokers given £25 vape shop vouchers, as well as support from the health service's stop smoking service.

Within one month, four in 10 of those who used the coupons said they had turned their back on cigarettes for good. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A pilot e-cigarette voucher scheme in a rural county of the UK (open access) Nicotine and Tobacco Research
  

Autism breakthrough as scientists find 70 genes 'strongly linked' to condition

Autism breakthrough as scientists find 70 genes 'strongly linked' to condition Scientists have discovered dozens of genes that are strongly linked to autism, in what could be a breakthrough.  

Researchers hope the more than 70 newly-identified genetic variants could pave the way for new tests and treatments for the condition. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism Nature Genetics

NHS blows £1million on 'woke groups' for staff

NHS blows £1million on 'woke groups' for staff The NHS has spent more than £1million on hundreds of 'woke' staff networks at a time when it desperately needs more cash for patient care.

Nearly 500 of these groups have been set up by health trusts across the UK – taking up around 36,000 hours of staff time a year. Despite ministers' calls for the NHS to cut back on 'waste and wokery', some groups use taxpayers' money to put on events around transgender issues, sexuality and racism, often held during the working day. The Daily Mail

Digital health care across the UK: where are we now?

Digital health care across the UK: where are we now? Achieving digital transformation in health and social care in England has long been a goal, but progress on it over the past decade has not been straightforward. But what is happening elsewhere in the UK? With Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England all embarking on ambitious digital health programmes, Rachel Hutchings and Jessica Morris take a closer look at the various approaches being taken. Nuffield Trust

NHS leaders make ‘unprecedented move’ urging government to act now on rising energy costs or risk public health emergency

NHS leaders make ‘unprecedented move’ urging government to act now on rising energy costs or risk public health emergency NHS leaders across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are warning of rising numbers of people falling sick and worsening health outcomes across the country unless the government takes urgent action to limit further energy price increases.  

They fear a widening of health inequalities and worsening health outcomes for people living in communities with the highest levels of deprivation if individuals and families are driven further into poverty because of excessive energy costs. A decision on the energy price cap is expected on 26 August, with the latest estimates suggesting that the cap could go as high as £4,200 by January. NHS Confederation

See also:

• People's health at risk unless action taken on energy costs - NHS leaders BBC News
• NHS chiefs claim soaring energy bills will trigger 'humanitarian crisis' this winter The Daily Telegraph
• NHS leaders warn of ‘humanitarian crisis’ if government doesn’t act on energy costs The Guardian
• NHS boss warns of ‘unprecedented’ risk of death from cold homes unless ministers intervene on bills The Independent
• Cost of living: UK facing 'public health emergency' if action not taken on energy bills, NHS chiefs warn Sky News

Developing aspiring ethnic minority nursing and midwifery leaders

Developing aspiring ethnic minority nursing and midwifery leaders The Midlands Developing Aspirant Ethnic Minority Nursing and Midwifery Leaders Programme is a new, innovative regional pilot scheme designed by ethnic minority nurses and midwives for ethnic minority nurses and midwives. Miriam Coffie and Tom Warner explain how the programme works and its contribution to reducing healthcare inequalities. NHS England

NHS to roll out variant busting booster jab from September ahead of winter

NHS to roll out variant busting booster jab from September ahead of winter The NHS will become the first healthcare system in the world to use the next generation, bivalent COVID vaccine when it kickstarts the autumn booster rollout in early September.

Following the updated advice from the JCVI on Monday, the NHS has now set out plans for the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme – the largest and fastest vaccine drive in health service history.

Set to start during the week of 5 September, NHS staff will begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound. NHS England

See also:

• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Good practice statement on the use of second booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines World Health Organization
• Covid booster rollout to start in early September in England BBC News
• Covid pass app working again, says NHS Digital, after disruption BBC News
• COVID-19 booster campaign to start on 5 September, NHS England says GPonline
• NHS England to use dual-variant Covid vaccine in autumn booster programme The Guardian
• British travellers left struggling to board flights after NHS Covid pass down The Guardian
• NHS Covid Pass fixed after glitch leaves travellers without vaccination records The Independent
• Bring back Covid face masks on public transport or face winter wave, Tony Blair Institute warns The Independent
• Most people with Omicron didn't even realise they had COVID-19, study finds Sky News

Ambulance pressures: Thousands of taxis sent following 999 calls

Ambulance pressures: Thousands of taxis sent following 999 calls Ambulance services are using taxis to take thousands of patients to hospital following calls initially categorised as urgent.

Freedom of Information Act figures indicate the practice is increasing as trusts struggle with pressures.

Patients ranged from a three-day-old baby in Yorkshire to a 103-year-old in Wales. BBC News

Government defends medical student number cap

Government defends medical student number cap Questions are being asked why the government is sticking to its cap on medical and dentistry places.

A shortage of doctors and other medical staff has been described as the biggest challenge facing the NHS.

But the number of places at UK medical schools are capped - in England this year there are 7,500 places. BBC News

'Thousands' of foreign workers to be hired to fill health and social care staffing shortages

'Thousands' of foreign workers to be hired to fill health and social care staffing shortages The government is working on plans to recruit thousands of foreign workers from countries such as India and the Phillippines to plug staffing gaps in the health and social care sector, according to reports.

Overseas recruits are expected to be brought in on a “mass scale” as the health service struggles to fill vacancies. The Independent

See also:

• Slump in nursing course acceptances will worsen staffing crisis – union boss The Independent

UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study

UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study Dentists in the UK should be encouraged to give antibiotics to patients at high risk of life-threatening heart infection before invasive procedures, a study has found.

Research suggests bacteria from the mouth entering the bloodstream during dental treatment could explain 30% to 40% of infective endocarditis cases. The rare but life-threatening condition occurs when the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves become infected. The Guardian

See also:

• Antibiotic Prophylaxis Against Infective Endocarditis Before Invasive Dental Procedures (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Dentists should give antibiotics to high-risk patients to help prevent life-threatening heart infection University of Sheffield
• Infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures: IDEA case-crossover study NIHR

Liz Truss called for patients to be charged for GP visits, 2009 paper reveals

Liz Truss called for patients to be charged for GP visits, 2009 paper reveals Liz Truss called for patients to be charged to see their GP and for doctors’ pay to be slashed by 10% in a pamphlet she co-authored in 2009, the unearthed document has revealed.

The Tory leadership frontrunner also wanted to see the universal child benefit abolished in the report, which she co-wrote with six other people when she was deputy director of the Reform thinktank. The Guardian

Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter

Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter Nearly nine in ten GPs fear that their practice will struggle to cope this winter, with workload pressures and staff shortages chief among their concerns, a GPonline poll has found.

Northampton General Hospital nurse given prestigious award for 'outstanding' end-of-life care

Northampton General Hospital nurse given prestigious award for 'outstanding' end-of-life care A nurse from Northampton General Hospital (NGH) has been awarded a prestigious national award for her outstanding work supporting patients and their families in end-of-life care. The Chief Nursing Officer for England Silver Award recognises major contributions to patient care and the nursing profession. Northants Live

Kettering care home rated inadequate for third time

Kettering care home rated inadequate for third time A nursing home has been rated inadequate for a third consecutive time and will remain in special measures.

An inspection of Five Gables near Kettering, Northamptonshire, in June found "no significant improvement" since the previous checks in January.

A report said its management of records and medicines could put people at risk. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Five Gables Nursing Home Care Quality Commission

Bringing hospital care home: virtual wards and hospital at home for older people

Bringing hospital care home: virtual wards and hospital at home for older people This report explores the potential benefits, limitations, and current scientific evidence to be considered when providing a safe, effective, and person-centred alternative to hospital inpatient care for older adults. This publication highlights how ‘virtual wards’ are being funded and implemented. It explains the various definitions of the term ‘virtual wards’ as used in different parts of the UK and describes the face-to-face care delivered by a multidisciplinary team, combined with some remote monitoring. British Geriatrics Society

Payment reform, purchaser and provider decisions and the performance of emergency healthcare systems: the case of blended payment in the English NHS

Payment reform, purchaser and provider decisions and the performance of emergency healthcare systems: the case of blended payment in the English NHS This paper constitutes the first and foundational output of the ESHCRU2 project 3 - Analysis of purcher-provider contracts: modelling risk sharing and incentive implications. This project focuses on the implications of payment reform of what is called blended payment for emergency care. The paper sets out the theoretical model developed to understand how behavioural choices could be influenced by this payment reform. Centre for Health Economics

Research: Evaluation of the potential approaches to risk assessment of unintentional chemical mixtures for future UK REACH assessments

Research: Evaluation of the potential approaches to risk assessment of unintentional chemical mixtures for future UK REACH assessments This joint report by the Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency identifies a recommended approach to address the risks to both the environment and human health from unintentional mixtures of chemicals under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation.

Covid: Brain fog more common two years on, study suggests

Covid: Brain fog more common two years on, study suggests Two years after having Covid-19, diagnoses of brain fog, dementia and epilepsy are more common than after other respiratory infections, a study by the University of Oxford suggests.

But anxiety and depression are no more likely in adults or children two years on, the research found.

More research is needed to understand how and why Covid could lead to other conditions. BBC News

See also:

• Neurological and psychiatric risk trajectories after SARS-CoV-2 infection: an analysis of 2-year retrospective cohort studies including 1 284 437 patients (open access) The Lancet Psychiatry
• Covid can raise the risk of dementia and psychosis in sufferers for up to two years The Daily Mail
• Covid patients face dementia risk years after infection, study finds The Independent
• ‘Covid patients at greater risk of psychiatric conditions up to two years later’ The Independent

Dog infected with monkeypox prompts isolation warning

Dog infected with monkeypox prompts isolation warning A dog has been infected with monkeypox after catching the virus from its owner, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

It's the first case of its kind, and health leaders say isolating from pets when infected is important.

The WHO also warned of the need to get rid of rubbish carefully to reduce the risk of infecting other animals.

There is no evidence that dogs can transmit the disease to other dogs or humans, an expert said. BBC News

See also:

• First human to dog monkeypox case prompts WHO advice to pet owners The Guardian
• WHO asks public to propose less stigmatising name for monkeypox The Guardian
• Dog catches monkeypox from owners after sleeping in their bed The Independent

NHS workers to vote on industrial action after rejecting 4% pay award

NHS workers to vote on industrial action after rejecting 4% pay award Hundreds of thousands of NHS workers will decide whether to go on strike after rejecting a pay increase that will see them worse off than last year in real terms.

The pay rise, announced in July, would mean an average 4 per cent increase for most staff but new inflation figures released today mean the average cost of living had increased by 10 per cent since the same time last year. Big Issue

See also:

• New RCN ballot results give clearest sign yet of strike action by nursing staff across the UK Royal College of Nursing
• Junior doctors in strike ballot threat over 'unacceptable' 2% pay rise offer Daily Mail
• Majority of GPs back taking industrial action in the coming year, poll suggests GPonline
• Millions of public sector workers to vote on strikes in ‘biggest industrial action since 1970s’ The Independent
• Nurses speak of ‘shift in appetite’ for strike action over pay Nursing Times
• ‘Agenda for Change’ contractors reject NHS pay award Pharmacy Business

UK hospitals lose millions after AI startup valuation collapses

UK hospitals lose millions after AI startup valuation collapses Two NHS hospital trusts in the UK have lost nearly £15 million ($18 million) between them due to the collapse in value of an AI startup.

Last month, The Register reported that seven NHS hospital trusts appeared to have lost millions following deals with Sensyne Health – a fledgling AI business trying to discover and develop new medicines – which saw company shares exchanged for patient data.

NHS mental health services are turning children away when they need us most

NHS mental health services are turning children away when they need us most | Tara Porter I have worked with young people for 25 years – it’s galling to see them bounced between overworked departments because their diagnosis doesn’t fit. The Guardian

Online pharmacy prescriptions have DOUBLED as patients turn to websites because they can't see a GP

Online pharmacy prescriptions have DOUBLED as patients turn to websites because they can't see a GP Patients are being put at risk because online pharmacies are dishing out drugs in dangerously high quantities and with little scrutiny, a watchdog has warned.

Twice as many prescriptions were written by pharmacy websites last year than pre-pandemic, in a sign of Britons increasingly turning to the internet after struggling to access a GP. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GPhC issues advice about risks relating to online services General Pharmaceutical Council

Genetic links can help men with higher risk of prostate cancer get early diagnosis

Genetic links can help men with higher risk of prostate cancer get early diagnosis Men at high risk of developing prostate cancer could be diagnosed earlier if genetic weaknesses were considered by GPs, research reveals.

A fifth of annual suspected prostate cancer referrals could be fast-tracked for investigation, while another 40 per cent could avoid referral and invasive biopsies if a genetic risk for cancer was included into GP triage. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Applying a genetic risk score for prostate cancer to men with lower urinary tract symptoms in primary care to predict prostate cancer diagnosis: a cohort study in the UK Biobank (open access) British Journal of Cancer

Northampton day hospice reopens after Covid closure

Northampton day hospice reopens after Covid closure A day hospice forced to close its doors due to Covid-19 has resumed face-to-face care.

The Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton moved its day services online in March 2020.

Earlier this month it fully re-introduced its physical wellbeing services for people living in the community. BBC Northampton

Postoperative nutritional management among patients with oesophago-gastric cancer in England: NOGCA short report

Postoperative nutritional management among patients with oesophago-gastric cancer in England: NOGCA short report This report provides insight into current postoperative nutritional practices in ten (27.8 per cent) oesophago-gastric cancer specialist centres across England, based on 617 patients who underwent curative surgery after being diagnosed between April 2019 and March 2020. The report found that, for patients who had oesophagectomy, the most commonly reported nutritional management strategy was enteral nutrition delivered via a jejunostomy during the admission and continued on discharge (51.0 per cent). It also found that the majority of oesophagectomy patients (83.9 per cent) had a jejunostomy or received parenteral nutrition during their surgical admission. National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit

Guidance for emergency departments: initial assessment

Guidance for emergency departments: initial assessment This guidance makes recommendations for models of initial assessment of patients arriving at emergency departments and provides standard definitions of the processes that classify as initial assessment: streaming, triage, and rapid assessment and treatment. It recognises that initial assessment and flow from the front door of a hospital are a crucial first step on a patient’s journey. NHS England

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates Latest updates on cases of monkeypox identified by the UK Health Security Agency.

Infected blood victims to get £100,000 compensation

Infected blood victims to get £100,000 compensation More than 4,000 UK victims of the infected blood scandal are to receive interim compensation of £100,000 each, the government has announced.

It will be given to those whose health is failing after developing blood-borne viruses like hepatitis and HIV, as well as partners of people who have died.

It is the first time compensation will be paid after decades of campaigning. BBC News

See also:

• Infected Blood victims to receive £100,000 interim compensation payment Cabinet Office
• Contaminated blood: If I was paid in tears I'd be a billionaire BBC News
• Survivors of contaminated blood scandal awarded interim payments The Guardian
• ‘My family was destroyed’: relatives of blood scandal victims get nothing The Guardian
• Bristol woman orphaned aged nine due to infected blood scandal denied compensation ITV News
• Infected blood victims to be offered £100,000 in government compensation Sky News

Hospitals told to slash waits as GP cancer referral rates spike

Hospitals told to slash waits as GP cancer referral rates spike Hospitals have been ordered to reduce the number of patients waiting too long for cancer investigation amid GP referral rates that are currently one fifth higher than before the pandemic.

In a letter to trusts and ICBs, sent at the end of last month, NHS England said cancer referrals ‘now constitute one in every four’ GP referrals to an acute trust. Pulse

Majority of 40 new hospitals promised by Boris Johnson in 2019 unlikely to be finished by next general election

Majority of 40 new hospitals promised by Boris Johnson in 2019 unlikely to be finished by next general election Eighty percent of the 40 new hospitals promised by the Conservatives in 2019 either do not have a completion date or are unlikely to be finished by the next general election, according to a Sky News investigation.

BCG vaccine can protect against Covid, new report finds

BCG vaccine can protect against Covid, new report finds The world may have another tool with which to fight the effects of the Covid-19 virus.

A new study published in Cell Reports Medicine has found that the Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, developed to help fight tuberculosis in the early 1900s, may offer a measure of protection against Covid and a range of other infectious diseases and bacteria by strengthening the immune system. The Independent

See also:

• Multiple BCG vaccinations for prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in Type 1 diabetes (open access) Cell Reports Medicine
• Covid vaccine: When can I get my booster jab? The Independent
• Covid-19 drug trial at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge giving hope to those who never stopped shielding ITV News
• BCG Vaccine Protects Type 1 Diabetics Against COVID-19 Technology Networks

NHS fails on mental health care targets as waiting list rises to 1.2 million

NHS fails on mental health care targets as waiting list rises to 1.2 million The number of people waiting for community mental health care has risen to 1.2 million, with the NHS missing several targets, new data reveals.

The NHS England data found the figure for those waiting for a mental health follow-up appointment or learning disability service at the end of 2021-22 was up from 1.08 million at the end of quarter three. The Independent

Dementia patients can wait up to TWO YEARS for diagnosis, audit shows

Dementia patients can wait up to TWO YEARS for diagnosis, audit shows Dementia patients face a postcode lottery of care with some waiting up to two years for a diagnosis, a damning audit reveals.

Patients are waiting an average of 17.7 weeks to find out if they have the condition after being referred to a memory assessment service, up from 13 weeks pre-pandemic.

However, the average masks a huge range in times, with some people seen immediately while others face waits of up to 104 weeks, the report reveals. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Memory Services Spotlight Audit 2021 - National Report Royal College of Psychiatrists
• National Audit of Dementia publishes Spotlight Report on Memory Assessment Services Royal College of Psychiatrists

Vaccine could ward off lyme disease to help the thousands of Britons

Vaccine could ward off lyme disease to help the thousands of Britons A vaccine designed to protect against Lyme disease is being trialled and, if successful, could be available for use in 2025.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, spread by ticks, which affects thousands of Britons every year.

There are about 1,000 laboratory-confirmed cases a year in England and Wales, although the UK Health Security Agency estimates the true number of people affected is up to four times higher. The Daily Mail 

Mental health charity launches new community services across Northamptonshire

Mental health charity launches new community services across Northamptonshire A mental health charity has launched two new community services in Northampton and Wellingborough.

The Northampton project, has now opened its new community hub next to the Mind offices in Regent Square. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Student nurses invited to apply for mental health and learning disability placement at Northampton hospital

Student nurses invited to apply for mental health and learning disability placement at Northampton hospital Student nurses specialising in mental health and learning disabilities have been invited to gain a deeper understanding of the sector by carrying out work experience at a Northampton hospital.

St Andrew’s Healthcare, situated in Billing Road, has teamed up with the University of Northampton (UON) to provide nursing students with the opportunity to join the Healthcare Landscape Nursing Placement Programme. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Pre-registration community nursing placements survey report

Pre-registration community nursing placements survey report The report is based on evidence gathered through an online survey, part of a wider programme of work to highlight the community placement options available for pre-registration nursing students and the career opportunities that may follow. Historically there has been an emphasis on learning in hospital settings, where pre-registration student nurses gain experience in generalist and specialist areas. However, with more and increasingly complex healthcare now being delivered in the community, it is essential that student nurses gain a wider range of experiences. Queen’s Nursing Institute

Vision for pharmacy practice in England

Vision for pharmacy practice in England The RPS's project with The King's Fund, transforming pharmacy practice, is developing a vision for the role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams working across systems providing patient care and NHS services. People are being asked to respond to a consultation survey on six key themes and The King's Fund have completed a literature review which has helped inform these initial themes. The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 30th September 2022. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

NHS expands lifesaving home testing kits for bowel cancer

NHS expands lifesaving home testing kits for bowel cancer Home-testing kits that can help detect early-stage bowel cancer will be rolled out to 58-year-olds in England for the first time, as part of a major expansion of the lifesaving screening programme. NHS England

Update on vaccination to protect against monkeypox in England

Update on vaccination to protect against monkeypox in England Latest figures confirm that over 25,000 people have been vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine, as part of the strategy to contain the monkeypox outbreak in the UK. These thousands of vaccines, administered by the NHS to those at highest risk of exposure, should have a significant impact on the transmission of the virus. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• COVID-19 autumn booster and flu vaccine programme expansion NHS England
• Monkeypox: experts give virus variants new names World Health Organization
• Monkeypox: Lack of vaccines sparks pause in UK rollout BBC News
• Expert warns that monkeypox IS the next pandemic - but 'not anything like the Covid' outbreak The Daily Mail
• Smallpox vaccines may not protect against monkeypox for life The Guardian

Covid: UK approves Moderna's Omicron booster

Covid: UK approves Moderna's Omicron booster The UK has become the first country to approve a dual vaccine which tackles both the original Covid virus and the newer Omicron variant.

Ministers say the vaccine will now form part of the autumn booster campaign.

Moderna thinks 13 million doses of its new vaccine will be available this year, but 26 million people are eligible for some form of booster.

Health officials say people should take whichever booster they are offered as all jabs provide protection. BBC News

See also:

• JCVI publishes advice on COVID-19 vaccines for autumn booster programme UK Health Security Agency
• Independent report: COVID-19 vaccines for autumn 2022: JCVI advice, 15 August 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• First bivalent Covid-19 booster gets UK approval BBC News
• The hunt for a universal Covid-19 vaccine BBC Future
• Covid 19: Outrage as NHS is blocked from treating vulnerable patients with Evusheld The Daily Mail
• UK authorises 'next generation' omicron booster vaccine in world first The Daily Telegraph
• JCVI sets out which vaccines to use for autumn COVID-19 boosters GPonline
• The threat of Covid isn’t over – so why does Britain have a conspiracy of silence about it? The Guardian
• ‘Living with Covid’ should be countered by containing the virus once and for all The Guardian
• ‘Serious concerns’ over Covid booster rollout as GPs say they can’t afford to offer jabs The Independent

Changing kidney blood type may boost transplants

Changing kidney blood type may boost transplants Researchers have successfully altered the blood type of donor kidneys in a discovery that could increase the supply of the organs for transplant.

The breakthrough has particular implications for minority groups, who often find it harder to find a match.

A kidney from someone with blood type A cannot be given to someone with type B, and vice versa.

But changing the blood type of a kidney to the universal type O will mean it can be transplanted into any patient. BBC News

Midwife numbers fall in every English region, figures show

Midwife numbers fall in every English region, figures show The number of midwives has fallen in every English region in the past year, figures show.

Numbers dropped by around 600 on top of a longstanding shortage of more than 2,000 midwives, according to analysis of NHS Digital data by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). Evening Standard

NHS accused of 'endorsing quackery' after advertising for a Japanese energy healer

NHS accused of 'endorsing quackery' after advertising for a Japanese energy healer The role in Manchester requires they 'activate the healing process' in cancer patients. Experts slammed the NHS for endorsing the 'quackery in the midst of a funding crisis', describing it as 'frankly appalling'. The Daily Mail 

Kettering family's concerns investigated after baby death

Kettering family's concerns investigated after baby death Jessica Mitchell believes she was discriminated against by NHS workers in Kettering who did not "care enough" to save her baby.

Her son Reggie died at home on 5 March from an as yet unknown illness. He was just six weeks old.

Ms Mitchell, 18, says Kettering General Hospital "refused to do proper checks" after Reggie "went floppy and began shaking" in February.

A spokesperson for NHS Northamptonshire said a multi-agency review of the case was under way. BBC Northampton

Major study outlines wide health inequalities in England

Major study outlines wide health inequalities in England People living in the most deprived parts of England are diagnosed with serious illness earlier and die sooner than their peers in more affluent areas, a major new study finds. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Quantifying health inequalities in England The Health Foundation

Pulling teeth: why have successive governments failed dentistry?

Pulling teeth: why have successive governments failed dentistry? After a BBC investigation this week reported that nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK are not accepting new adult patients for treatment under the health service, Nigel Edwards describes some of the problems in the sector and how they could provide a warning for the unfolding crisis in GP services. Nuffield Trust

Commissioning quality standard: alcohol and drug services

Commissioning quality standard: alcohol and drug services This commissioning quality standard (CQS) sets standards that will guide local partnerships to commission alcohol and drug services more effectively. This guidance helps partnerships to: clarify the commissioning process they should follow; plan and deliver harm reduction, treatment and recovery interventions; understand local need for alcohol and drug services; assess whether anyone affected by problem alcohol and drug use is able to access the right support at the right time; and provide high-quality support from a multi-disciplinary skilled workforce for children, young people and adults affected by problem alcohol and drug use. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

Prime Minister launches 'Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission'

Prime Minister launches 'Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission' Prime Minister Boris Johnson launches national mission to tackle dementia and doubles research funding to £160 million a year by 2024. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS checks for bowel cancer hit record-high thanks to Dame Deborah

NHS checks for bowel cancer hit record-high thanks to Dame Deborah Record numbers of people have come forward for bowel cancer checks thanks to lifesaving awareness raising by Dame Deborah James, the NHS said today.

Between the months of May and July, referrals for suspected lower gastro-intestinal cancers reached record levels, with over 170,500 people referred for checks during that period – up over 30,000 compared to the same period last year, and nearly 80,000 higher than the same period two years ago. NHS England

Covid: Evusheld antibody protection ruled out for most vulnerable

Covid: Evusheld antibody protection ruled out for most vulnerable A Covid protection for people with weakened immune systems has been shelved in the UK because of a lack of evidence over how well it works against the Omicron variant.

The Department of Health said it would not be buying doses of the Evusheld injection. BBC News

See also:

• Levels of the 'stress hormone' are key indicators as to whether a person will suffer long-Covid The Daily Mail
• UK decision not to buy Covid drug Evusheld disappoints charities The Guardian
• Government urged to classify Covid as an occupational disease The Guardian

Some antidepressants may make heatwave challenging

Some antidepressants may make heatwave challenging People taking some mental health medication need to be extra cautious during the heatwave, the ex-head of the Royal College of Psychiatrists says.

Some antipsychotic medications and antidepressants may hinder the body from regulating temperature properly.

Certain drugs can also cause people to sweat excessively, not register thirst or make skin more sensitive to sun. BBC News

Thousands more NHS beds to be created in England this winter

Thousands more NHS beds to be created in England this winter England's health chiefs say they will create an extra 7,000 beds to tackle "substantial" pressures this winter.

It comes after government scientific advisers warned that "high numbers of beds may be needed for respiratory patients".

The extra beds will include more temporary units at hospital sites and 2,500 "virtual ward spaces" with patients monitored at home. BBC News

See also:

• NHS sets out package of measures to boost capacity ahead of winter NH England
• NHS will send 2,500 patients to 'virtual wards' in in time for inevitable winter crisis The Daily Mail
• NHS to create thousands more beds and boost 999 staff numbers ahead of winter Evening Standard
• New targets to curb hours lost to ambulances waiting outside A&E in bid to cut winter pressures The Independent

Thousands of patients forced to travel far from home for NHS mental health treatment

Thousands of patients forced to travel far from home for NHS mental health treatment Thousands of people are being forced to travel tens or even hundreds of miles to access mental health treatment on the NHS - because beds are not available locally.

In May alone, there were 575 "inappropriate out of area mental health placements" in England. Sky News

Ministers admit 34 hospital buildings in England have roofs that could collapse

Ministers admit 34 hospital buildings in England have roofs that could collapse Thirty-four hospital buildings in England have roofs made of concrete that is so unstable they could fall down at any time, ministers have admitted.

The revelation has prompted renewed fears that ceilings at the hospitals affected might suddenly collapse, injuring staff and patients, and calls for urgent action to tackle the problem. The Guardian

Britons are LESS happy than during pandemic: More people worry about their health and feel lonely

Britons are LESS happy than during pandemic: More people worry about their health and feel lonely Britons are less happy now than they were during some parts of the pandemic, shock official figures show.

More people are concerned about their physical and mental health than they were in mid-2020, just months after the coronavirus outbreak sent the country into its first lockdown.

And Britons are struggling more with relationships and loneliness than ever before. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Quality of life in the UK: August 2022 Office for National Statistics

Data privacy fears as GPs are sharing patient records on Word documents

Data privacy fears as GPs are sharing patient records on Word documents GPs are sharing patient records on Word documents via email amid ongoing disruption due to the NHS cyberattack.

There are concerns the move could risk patient privacy. 

Advanced, a major IT provider to the health service, are being held ransom by hackers amid concerns millions of confidential records could be affected. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS cyber attacks hit record levels in four in five trusts after Russian invasion The Daily Telegraph
• NHS 111 systems could be offline until next week following cyber attack GPonline
• NHS at risk of further major cyberattacks this year, experts warn The Independent
• Ransomware attack on NHS systems could take weeks to fix, major IT provider warns Sky News
• Ministers coordinating 'resilience response' after 'major' cyber attack hits NHS systems across UK Sky News

Mother of autistic boy, two, criticises Northampton General Hospital for 'failing' her son and 700 other children on the waiting list

Mother of autistic boy, two, criticises Northampton General Hospital for 'failing' her son and 700 other children on the waiting list A mother of an autistic two-year-old boy has criticised Northampton General Hospital for having ZERO paediatricians and ultimately “failing” her son and 700 other young people. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS performance summary

NHS performance summary The analysis below includes the latest data on key activity and performance measures from June and July 2022, as published by NHS England on 11 August 2022. This includes data on the NHS's performance against some key targets, including some of those set out in the latest planning guidance, as well as other indicators of patient safety and care. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Today’s NHS data should be a wake-up call to the next prime minister The Health Foundation
• Next PM will inherit health system in 'state of steady crisis' The King's Fund
• NHS making huge progress on long waits, but too many patients stuck in hospital due to capacity crunch in social care NHS Confederation
• NHS slashes longest waits for care despite record numbers of most serious 999 calls NHS England
• NHS Activity Tracker NHS Providers
• Mountain to clear NHS waiting list keeps getting bigger Nuffield Trust
• Ambulance calls for most serious conditions hit record BBC News
• National hell service: Nearly 1,000 patients a DAY wait 12-plus hours in A&E The Daily Mail
• Hospital waiting lists in England reach record high of 6.7 million The Guardian
• NHS waiting list hits record 6.7 million as backlog rises by 100,000 The Independent

Community Network: The staffing challenges facing community health services and how we can address them

Community Network: The staffing challenges facing community health services and how we can address them The Community Network, which is hosted by NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, has published an infographic to compliment its new briefing, which reveals the problems and solutions to workforce shortages in community healthcare.

Having the right numbers and skill mix of community staff is essential to providing high-quality care, keeping people well in their own home or in the community, and preventing demand on other healthcare services.

See also:

• Urgent action needed on staff shortages as children face missing out on life changing treatments NHS Providers

Independent report: Vaccination strategy for ongoing polio incident: JCVI statement

Independent report: Vaccination strategy for ongoing polio incident: JCVI statement Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on a vaccination strategy to control the ongoing polio incident. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS IT supplier held to ransom by hackers

NHS IT supplier held to ransom by hackers A cyber-attack on a major IT provider of the NHS has been confirmed as a ransomware attack.

Advanced, which provides digital services like patient check-in and NHS 111, says it may take three to four weeks to fully recover.

Ransomware hackers take control of IT systems, steal data and demand a payment from victims to recover.

The NHS insists that disruption is minimal, but Advanced would not say whether NHS data had been stolen. BBC News

See also:

• GCHQ to investigate ransomware attack on NHS 111 supplier Channel 4 News
• NHS cyber attack: Hackers 'issue demands' to IT supplier The Daily Mail
• Advanced begins forensic investigation into ransomware attack Digital Health
• NHS ransomware attack: what happened and how bad is it? The Guardian
• Fears for patient data after ransomware attack on NHS software supplier The Guardian
• Cyberattack: NHS staff unable to access patient notes for three weeks The Independent
• Cyber attack on software supplier causes "major outage" across the NHS IT Pro
• NHS facing weeks of disruption after cyberattack on supplier of patient records systems Public Technology

NHS trusts in England offer staff hardship grants amid cost of living crisis

NHS trusts in England offer staff hardship grants amid cost of living crisis NHS trusts are giving their staff hardship grants, low-cost meals and money to buy their children’s school uniforms to help them cope with the deepening cost of living crisis.

Others have set up food banks, are subsidising public transport fares and advising hard-up frontline personnel how to access supermarket vouchers to help feed their families. The Guardian

Pharmacists warn shortage of drugs is putting patients at risk

Pharmacists warn shortage of drugs is putting patients at risk A shortage of some medicines is putting patients at risk, pharmacists have warned.

A poll of 1,562 UK pharmacists for the Pharmaceutical Journal found more than half (54%) believed patients had been put at risk in the past six months due to shortages. Sky News

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria: New drug can fight off 300 different types of superbugs

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria: New drug can fight off 300 different types of superbugs Scientists have developed a drug that is hoped could lead the fight against superbugs.

Fabimycin — a man-made antibiotic — was found to kill hundreds of bacteria that are resistant to common medicines. 

Superbugs are estimated to contribute to around 7million deaths per year, with some experts warning they should be taken as seriously as global warming. The Daily Mail

See also:

• An Iterative Approach Guides Discovery of the FabI Inhibitor Fabimycin, a Late-Stage Antibiotic Candidate with In Vivo Efficacy against Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections (open access) ACS Central Science

Childhood obesity: Just half of six-year-olds get one hour of exercise each day

Childhood obesity: Just half of six-year-olds get one hour of exercise each day Half of six-year-olds in England do not get enough exercise each day, according to a study.

Only 53 per cent do the 60 minutes of vigorous exercise recommended by the NHS for the age group — with girls doing less than boys. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Activity Behaviors in British 6-Year-Olds: Cross-Sectional Associations and Longitudinal Change During the School Transition (open access) Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Search and destroy drug that could extend lives of advanced prostate cancer patients gets approval

Search and destroy drug that could extend lives of advanced prostate cancer patients gets approval A radical ‘search and destroy’ treatment which could extend the lives of thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer has been approved by regulators.

The treatment works like a guided missile – tracking down cancer cells in the body and delivering a radioactive payload to destroy them. The Daily Mail 

Adult social care provider partnerships in integrated care systems

Adult social care provider partnerships in integrated care systems This guide for adult social care providers concerns the opportunities integrated care systems (ICSs) provide for partnership working between health and social care. ICSs are partnerships between health and care organisations, coming together to collectively plan and deliver health and care to meet the needs of their population. This guide has been developed with input and support from NHS England and is designed to help adult social care providers understand ICS and, at the same time, help ICSs to have a better understanding of the value of the full participation and engagement from adult social care providers. Care Provider Alliance

Departmental overview 2020-21: Department of Health and Social Care

Departmental overview 2020-21: Department of Health and Social Care This overview summarises the work of the Department of Health & Social Care including what it does, how much it costs, recent and planned changes and what to look out for across its main business areas and services. National Audit Office

All children aged 1 to 9 in London to be offered a dose of polio vaccine

All children aged 1 to 9 in London to be offered a dose of polio vaccine Following the discovery of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus in sewage in north and east London, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that a targeted inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) booster dose should be offered to all children between the ages of 1 and 9 in all London boroughs.

This will ensure a high level of protection from paralysis and help reduce further spread of the virus. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Polio NHS UK
• Urgent polio boosters for London children  BBC News
• Polio IS spreading in Britain for first time in 40 years: Health chiefs launch 'urgent' jab rollout The Daily Mail
• Polio vaccine will be offered to London children after virus found in sewers The Daily Telegraph
• 900,000 London children to be offered polio vaccine booster after sewage findings The Guardian
• Children in London to be offered polio vaccine in bid to stop outbreak ITV News
• All London children aged one to nine to be offered polio vaccine dose after more virus found in sewers Sky News

'I've been let down - I shouldn't have stage-4 cancer'

'I've been let down - I shouldn't have stage-4 cancer' A woman with fast-growing stage-four breast cancer says the NHS has let her down, with delays at every stage of her treatment.

Caroline Boulton, 56, had several appointments for a mammogram, which checks for early signs of cancer, cancelled because of Covid, in March and November 2020.

In late 2021, she found a small lump, went to her GP and was referred urgently to a specialist - but then the delays began. BBC News

See also:

• Long cancer waits double in a year (log in required) Health Service Journal

Covid symptoms sufferers still have four months after catching virus revealed

Covid symptoms sufferers still have four months after catching virus revealed Covid sufferers are still reporting common symptoms an average of four months after having caught the virus, a new study has found.

Two hundred patients enrolled in the Covid-19 Neurological and Molecular Prospective Cohort Study in Georgia, or CONGA, to investigate the longer term impacts of the illness. The Independent

See also:

• Neuropsychiatric sequelae of long COVID-19: Pilot results from the COVID-19 neurological and molecular prospective cohort study in Georgia, USA (open access) Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
• People ‘still travelling less and exercising more than before Covid’ The Independent
• Covid reinfections: How likely are you to catch coronavirus again as cases rise? The Independent
• Study reveals new COVID treatments, therapies and drug combinations Open Access Government

Monkeypox vaccines set to run out in UK with bookings in some areas already closing

Monkeypox vaccines set to run out in UK with bookings in some areas already closing While the latest data suggests the monkeypox outbreak is slowing across the country, new cases are being reported every day, and it has been labelled as a "global health emergency".

The UK is set to run out of monkeypox vaccines, with bookings in some areas already closing as a result, Sky News understands.

Sources have suggested supply issues mean there are only around 5,000 doses of the jab left.

See also:

• Monkeypox isn’t just spread by sexual contact Full Fact
• UK will ‘run out of monkeypox vaccine in 10 to 20 days’ The Guardian
• Monkeypox: UK ‘on brink of running out of vaccines’ as infection spreads The Independent
• WHO forced to explain monkeypox has nothing to do with monkeys after spike in attacks on primates The Independent
• UK ‘on the verge of running out of monkeypox vaccines’ Metro
• The Chaotic Monkeypox Vaccine Pipeline Is Leaving Everyone Short Wired

CALL or nothing: NHS will tell patients to accept a 'virtual' appointment or face long waits

CALL or nothing: NHS will tell patients to accept a 'virtual' appointment or face long waits Patients will be forced to accept a virtual NHS appointment or face long waits as part of controversial plans to bring down waiting lists.

NHS bosses say the use of phone and video consultations will become much more common as part of a push to clear waits of more than 18 months by next April.

As part of the plans, trusts with the biggest backlog of outpatient appointments — like post-operation follow-ups — will be paired with hospitals with spare capacity. The Daily Mail

Lie down on your right side to absorb drugs better, new research suggests

Lie down on your right side to absorb drugs better, new research suggests Taking medicine lying on your right speeds up its effects, a new study has found, as researchers say posture affects how the stomach absorbs drugs.

Scientists have used a state-of-the-art 'StomachSim' that is based on the anatomy of the human stomach to analyse and understand how effective swallowed medicines are. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Computational modeling of drug dissolution in the human stomach: Effects of posture and gastroparesis on drug bioavailability (open access) Physics of Fluids

Charity's pride after donating picnic tables to KGH

Charity's pride after donating picnic tables to KGH KGH staff, patients and visitors can now take a break outside after a health charity donated 22 picnic tables.

The Northamptonshire Health Charity handed over £10,000 to pay for the tables after a funding request from the hospital’s health and wellbeing group. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The distribution of doctor quality: evidence from cardiologists in England

The distribution of doctor quality: evidence from cardiologists in England There is widespread and unexplained variation in the outcomes of similar patients across place and providers in all developed health systems. This paper provides new evidence on the role senior doctors play in determining patient outcomes. It exploits within-hospital quasi-random assignment of patients to senior doctors following a heart attack to estimate the effectiveness of individual doctors, and to estimate returns to experience for these doctors. Institute of Fiscal Studies

Investigation into the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd

Investigation into the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd Government had to move very fast at the start of the pandemic to increase testing capacity, but did not document key decisions adequately when awarding a contract to Randox Laboratories Ltd (Randox) for COVID-19 testing services, according to a report from the National Audit Office.

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UKHSA has published the latest epidemiological overview for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

It shows that as of 8 August 2022, there are 2,914 confirmed and 103 highly probable monkeypox cases in the UK: 3,017 in total. Of these, 2,883 are in England. UK Health Security Agency

UK heatwave: Four-day extreme heat warning issued for parts of England and Wales

UK heatwave: Four-day extreme heat warning issued for parts of England and Wales The Met Office has issued a four-day amber extreme heat warning, meaning vulnerable people's health could be impacted and travel could be disrupted.

The warning applies to southern and central England and parts of Wales from midnight on Thursday until Sunday. BBC News

What we know so far about ‘Langya,’ the new virus discovered in China

What we know so far about ‘Langya,’ the new virus discovered in China Less than three years after the discovery of the Covid-19 virus, Chinese scientists say that they have discovered a new virus that may potentially be fatal to humans.

Thus far, the Langya Henipavirus, known as “Langya,” does not appear to be as deadly or spreading as quickly as Covid. According to data from Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC), though the virus has already infected 35 people, none have become seriously ill or died. The Independent

See also:

• Langya virus: Warning as brand new virus is detected in China The Daily Mail
• Newly identified Langya virus tracked after China reports dozens of cases The Guardian
• China discovers potentially fatal new virus passed to humans from shrews The Independent

Obese patients ‘being weight-shamed by doctors and nurses’

Obese patients ‘being weight-shamed by doctors and nurses’ Doctors and nurses often “weight-shame” people who are overweight or obese, leaving them feeling anxious, depressed and wrongly blaming themselves for their condition, research has found.

Such behaviour, although usually the result of “unconscious weight bias”, leads to people not attending medical appointments, feeling humiliated and being more likely to put on weight. The Guardian

Half of people with possible signs of cancer wait six months to contact a GP

Half of people with possible signs of cancer wait six months to contact a GP Half of people with possible cancer symptoms in the UK do not contact a GP for at least six months, potentially reducing their chances of survival, research has found.

Poorer people are less likely than the better-off to see their family doctor once they have eventually sought medical help, a survey by Cancer Research UK found. The Guardian

See also:

• Help seeking: Why isn’t it as simple as it might sound? Cancer Research UK

Six in ten stroke patients waiting dangerously long times to be seen, study shows

Six in ten stroke patients waiting dangerously long times to be seen, study shows Six in ten stroke patients face dangerously long waits to be seen in a specialist unit, a study found. 

Just 38.3 per cent were admitted within the recommended four hours of arriving in A&E during the first three months of this year. 

The figure was down ten percentage points on the same period in 2021. The Daily Mail

NHS to launch 'Super September' to cut down backlogs in time for winter

NHS to launch 'Super September' to cut down backlogs in time for winter Patients in England are set to face longer waits for routine check-ups as NHS bosses order hospitals to see those who are yet to have their first appointment, in a fresh bid to hack down backlogs.

The plan, dubbed 'Super September' by health chiefs, will see those who have been in the queue the longest prioritised for appointments over those who are waiting for routine second consultations. The Daily Mail

North Northants healthy eating project awarded £250,000

North Northants healthy eating project awarded £250,000 A project to help north Northants residents be more healthy is being launched by a charity thanks to funding from Public Health Northamptonshire.

The initiative will focus on communities most at risk of a poor diet and will address ‘health inequalities’ in north Northamptonshire, as well as using knowledge and expertise already available. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Elderly patient reveals his "lonely" experience and criticises "appalling" TV services at Northampton General Hospital

Elderly patient reveals his "lonely" experience and criticises "appalling" TV services at Northampton General Hospital An elderly patient at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) has criticised the ‘cutting back’ of television services at the hospital.

The man, who the Chronicle & Echo has not named, said he and many other pensioners were often left ‘staring at walls’ because the free television service was scrapped. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS marks milestone in recovery plan as longest waits virtually eliminated

NHS marks milestone in recovery plan as longest waits virtually eliminated NHS staff were today praised for virtually eliminating the longest waits for scans, checks, surgical procedures and other routine treatment, the first milestone in the most ambitious catch-up plan in health service history. NHS England

See also:

• Virtually eliminating 104 week waiters ahead of July deadline is testament to tireless efforts across the whole NHS system NHS Confederation
• Backlog of longest-wait patients slashed in England BBC News
• Patients to wait longer for routine checks so NHS can clear record backlogs The Daily Telegraph
• NHS backlog of two-year waits for routine surgery in England shrinks to below 200 The Guardian
• NHS backlog of two-year waits shrinks from 22,500 to below 200 The Independent
• NHS backlog of two-year waits in England shrinks from 22,500 to below 200 ITV News
• NHS England reduces two-year waits for treatment but 12-month delays soar Sky News

RightCare stroke toolkit

RightCare stroke toolkit This toolkit provides integrated stroke delivery networks (ISDNs) and local stroke services with key actions to guide service improvement in the following pathway specific and across pathway system improvement priority areas: health inequalities; prevention; TIA management; pre-hospital; hyper acute and acute care; rehabilitation and life after stroke; workforce; medicines optimisation; and technology. NHS England