Tuesday, 11 October 2022
‘A’ is for ambulances: 4 ways to support paramedics this winter
‘A’ is for ambulances: 4 ways to support paramedics this winter It was on a ride along with an ambulance crew when it first became clear to me that being a paramedic is one of the toughest jobs there is. It’s an incredibly rewarding job, but it’s also relentless, highly pressured and physically and emotionally draining. And that was before the pandemic. The situation now is even worse. NHS leaders need to be doing everything realistically possible to support ambulance services and staff, and consequently their patients, as we head into a difficult winter. The King's Fund
Vacancies in social care increase by 52% to their highest rates and the workforce shrinks for the first time
Vacancies in social care increase by 52% to their highest rates and the workforce shrinks for the first time New figures released by Skills for Care show that the number of vacant posts in adult social care have increased by 52% in one year - the highest rate on record.
At the same time the demand for care has risen, highlighting that social care is facing a complex challenge with recruitment and retention which will be impacting on the lives of people who need social care.
Staff turnover rates within care roles remain high at 29% as approximately 400,000 people left their jobs. However, not everyone who leaves their job leaves social care - with around 63% of people working in the sector having been recruited from other care roles. Social care is still seeing high rates of turnover amongst the youngest staff with 52.6% of people under 20 leaving within 12 months.
See also:
- The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England Skills for Care
- Skills for Care report shows sector is ‘on its knees’ The Health Foundation
- 1 in 5 residential care workers in the UK living in poverty before cost-of-living crisis The Health Foundation
- Care worker numbers fall, leaving more people without support BBC News
Falling short: how far have we come in improving support for unpaid carers in England?
Falling short: how far have we come in improving support for unpaid carers in England? People who provide care unpaid for a family member or a friend due to illness, disability, or mental health provide a vital role bridging gaps in state-funded support. But despite the laudable policy statements in support of carers, this report looking at the policy history and latest data shows that the reality for unpaid carers has been one of diminishing help over time. Nuffield Trust
RCN releases independent report into its culture and launches investigations
RCN releases independent report into its culture and launches investigations RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen has pledged to ‘overhaul’ the organisation as a result of the Bruce Carr KC review into the culture of the College. Royal College of Nursing
See also:
- Damning probe shines light on Royal College of Nursing's toxic male-dominated culture The Daily Mail
- Bullying, misogyny and sexual culture at Royal College of Nursing, inquiry finds The Guardian
NHS Helps Record Numbers Of Young People With Their Mental Health As Students Return To Universities
NHS Helps Record Numbers Of Young People With Their Mental Health As Students Return To Universities England’s top mental health nurse is urging students starting or returning to university to seek mental health support as soon as they need it, as new data show record numbers of young people are accessing support.
Access to NHS mental health services for 18 to 25-year-olds was almost a fifth higher in 2021/22 than pre-pandemic, while the NHS has seen a rise of almost a fifth in people being referred to mental health crisis services compared to pre-pandemic levels. NHS England
‘Exploited’ foreign doctors worry about risk to UK patients
‘Exploited’ foreign doctors worry about risk to UK patients Doctors recruited from some of the world's poorest countries to work in UK hospitals say they're being exploited - and believe they're so overworked they fear putting patients' health at risk.
A BBC investigation has found evidence that doctors from Nigeria are being recruited by a British healthcare company and expected to work in private hospitals under conditions not allowed in the National Health Service. BBC News
See also:
Lucy Letby trial told poisoner was at work at baby deaths hospital
Lucy Letby trial told poisoner was at work at baby deaths hospital A "poisoner was at work" at a hospital where there was a "significant rise" in the number of healthy babies dying, a court has heard.
Lucy Letby has been accused of murdering five baby boys and two girls, and attempting to murder 10 other babies at Countess of Chester hospital.
Nick Johnson KC, prosecuting, said she was a "constant malevolent presence" in the hospital's neonatal unit.
Ms Letby, 32, of Hereford, denies 22 charges at Manchester Crown Court. BBC News
Thousands of pancreatic cancer patients die early 'because their disease is MISSED on scans'
Thousands of pancreatic cancer patients die early 'because their disease is MISSED on scans' Thousands of patients are dying early because pancreatic cancer is being missed on scans, a damning study has warned.
More than a third of pancreatic cancer cases (36 per cent) were potentially avoidable if they had been picked up sooner, researchers found.
But the UK study found many patients were being denied potentially curative surgery because signs were not being picked up after scans. The Daily Mail
GP practices told to cut services to protect core care for patients
GP practices told to cut services to protect core care for patients GP practices will have to drop some services and adopt waiting lists for non-urgent appointments to ensure core work can be maintained in the face of soaring pressure, the BMA has warned. Pulse
Monday, 10 October 2022
Covid: Northamptonshire hospitals limit visits and reintroduces facemasks
Covid: Northamptonshire hospitals limit visits and reintroduces facemasks Hospital visitors are being asked to wear facemasks and limit their time on wards to help prevent the spread of Covid, two NHS trusts said.
Kettering and Northampton general hospitals, in Northamptonshire, have made facemasks mandatory for all visitors to wards and clinical areas.
Visiting inpatients has been restricted to one visitor for one hour a day.
The changes follow an increase in Covid cases in hospital and in the community, both trusts added. BBC Northampton
Northamptonshire ambulance crews join NHS nurses and midwives in strike ballots
Northamptonshire ambulance crews join NHS nurses and midwives in strike ballots Thousands of East Midlands Ambulance Service workers in Northamptonshire are being urged to vote to strike for the first time in 40 years.
Around 2,000 GMB Union members across the region will be balloted after 88 percent voted in favour of taking industrial action in protest over NHS pay. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Cancer patient, 77, sat and slept in chair for 48 hours at Northampton General Hospital as there were no free beds
Cancer patient, 77, sat and slept in chair for 48 hours at Northampton General Hospital as there were no free beds A 77-year-old woman with cancer was left to sit and sleep in a chair at Northampton General Hospital for 48 hours because there were no beds available. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
A renewed vision for the NHS
A renewed vision for the NHS Given the unprecedented events of recent years and the very different operating environment the NHS now faces compared to 2019, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has engaged on plans for the future. To inform this, the NHS Confederation was invited to contribute ideas on why and how a long-term strategy should be different. Engagement with our members has revealed that health leaders broadly believe that any review of a longer-term approach must achieve three key objectives.
This report outlines our members' views on what national bodies and the government should consider when planning for the future, including how LTP priorities may need to be adjusted post COVID-19. NHS Confederation
Every Mind Matters campaign urges people to be kind to their mind
Every Mind Matters campaign urges people to be kind to their mind The public is urged to “be kind to your mind” as the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) launches the latest Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign.
Ahead of World Mental Health Day, which begins on Monday 10 October, the campaign calls on people to do small things which can make a big difference to their mental wellbeing and directs them to free tips and advice. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
Hidden waits force more than three quarters of mental health patients to seek help from emergency services
Hidden waits force more than three quarters of mental health patients to seek help from emergency services Nearly a quarter of mental health patients (23%) wait more than 12 weeks to start treatment, due to lack of consultant psychiatrists according to research released by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for World Mental Health Day.
A Savanta ComRes poll of 535 British adults diagnosed with a mental illness including eating disorders, addiction, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression reveals the damaging consequences of hidden waiting lists on the lives of patients.
Over two fifths (43%) say that the wait between initial referral and second appointment – the point when treatment usually starts – has caused their mental health to worsen.
See also:
NHS urges six million people to get their Covid autumn booster
NHS urges six million people to get their Covid autumn booster More than six million at risk people or over 65s who are yet to get their autumn booster will be reminded to book a jab next week, ahead of winter.
The fastest and largest vaccination programme in NHS history has already delivered over 5.5 million life-saving autumn top-ups to combat Covid since its launch just a month ago. NSH England
See also:
- Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk Department of Health and Social Care
- Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest UK Health Security Agency
- Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants: technical briefings UK Health Security Agency
Covid: Protect elderly from rising virus levels in UK
Covid: Protect elderly from rising virus levels in UK Covid is on the rise again in the UK and people who feel unwell should avoid vulnerable friends, colleagues and relatives as a precaution, say experts.
Data suggests 1.3 million or one in 50 has Covid, with a "marked increase" in infections among over-70s in England.
There are no new restrictions, but people are being reminded to take extra care and protect the elderly. BBC News
See also:
- Covid-19 UK: Health chiefs issue advice not to see elderly relatives if feeling unwell The Daily Mail
- Head of UK's vaccine taskforce KATE BINGHAM reveals painful bureaucracy behind jab programme The Daily Mail
- Are people suffering from Covid-19 vaccine fatigue? The Daily Mail
- More than 1m people report long Covid in UK a year after infection The Guardian
- Ex-vaccine head accuses Hancock of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ behaviour in meeting The Guardian
- NHS may cancel appointments and reduce visiting times over Covid and flu 'twindemic', leaders warn The Independent
- Even mild Covid-19 during pregnancy ‘exhausts placenta and damages immune response’ The Independent
- COVID-19: 'Concerning' increases in COVID hospitalisations - with 250% rise in one region Sky News
Freeze state pensions and slash 'non-frontline' NHS and schools staff, said No 10's economic adviser
Freeze state pensions and slash 'non-frontline' NHS and schools staff, said No 10's economic adviser Liz Truss’s top economic adviser suggested freezing the state pension, halving the government’s publicity budget and slashing “non-frontline” staff in health and schools by 10%, as part of a manifesto designed to win an election while also cutting spending. The Guardian
See also:
- GP demand outstripping supply as NHS faces £7bn budget gap GPonline
- Public sector job losses could pass 100000 if government refuses pay rises, says IFS The Guardian
- Cabinet Office clamps down on trust spending freedom Health Service Journal
- Schools and hospitals ‘must find £11bn of cuts’ after Kwarteng spending freeze The Independent
- NHS faces cuts to cancer, mental health and GP services due to £21bn financial black hole iNews
‘I see no other option’: NHS nurses on potential strikes
‘I see no other option’: NHS nurses on potential strikes The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is balloting 300,000 of its members about strike action over pay and staff shortages. The ballot, which is the first in the union’s 106-year history, is in protest at the government’s decision in July to award most NHS staff a 5% pay rise. The RCN is campaigning for a rise of 5% above inflation, which is currently 10.1%.
Five nurses share their views on potential strike action. The Guardian
How the pound's collapse could scuttle the UK's international nursing recruitment drive
How the pound's collapse could scuttle the UK's international nursing recruitment drive A weaker pound could scuttle Government plans to hire thousands of international nurses to man the NHS during its worst ever staffing crisis, experts warn.
For years, health secretaries have turned to the foreign sector as an easy quick-fix solution to shore up staff numbers.
But last month's disastrous mini-budget from Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, which sent the pound into a rout and sparked economic chaos, has shown the fragility of the UK's overreliance on foreign nursing labour. The Daily Mail
Shocking scenes uncovered inside Britain's mental health service crisis
Shocking scenes uncovered inside Britain's mental health service crisis A shocking undercover investigation has laid bare appalling failures in patient care on Britain’s mental health wards.
Reporters from Channel 4’s Dispatches programme spent three months secretly filming at one of the UK’s biggest mental health trusts – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Their alarming findings are to be aired Monday night (10th October) – and The Mail on Sunday has been granted an exclusive preview.
Dentistry disasters cost the NHS £3m each year
Dentistry disasters cost the NHS £3m each year NHS hospitals are paying out nearly £3 million a year in legal costs following catastrophic errors during dental surgery, latest figures have revealed.
Every year, thousands of patients with complications that require treatment beyond the skills of normal dental practices are referred to hospital for surgery.
The payouts are being used to settle claims with patients for a wide range of mistakes, including having the wrong teeth pulled, suffering unnecessary pain or nerve damage, or not being asked for their consent before having invasive treatments. The Daily Mail
Friday, 7 October 2022
Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital bring back face masks and visiting restrictions following rise in Covid cases
Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital bring back face masks and visiting restrictions following rise in Covid cases Bosses at Northamptonshire’s two main hospitals have told anybody entering the hospital to wear facemasks and there will be restricted visiting hours following a rise in Covid cases.
New measures from Thursday (October 6) follow data from NHS England which confirmed the number of patients being treated for Covid more than QUADRUPLED at Northamptonshire General Hospital in a week from 13 to 64 by 8am Wednesday (October 5). Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Aids charity’s concern at fewer HIV tests being done in Northamptonshire
Aids charity’s concern at fewer HIV tests being done in Northamptonshire Aids charities are concerned that HIV testing rates in Northamptonshire dropped by nearly a third since before the Covid pandemic.
Every year, thousands of people in the UK are infected with HIV, a disease which attacks the immune system. Northamptonshire Telegraph
No more targets or risk damaging public confidence in the NHS, warn health leaders
No more targets or risk damaging public confidence in the NHS, warn health leaders Health leaders are urging the Government to introduce a ban on new targets for the NHS unless they are backed up by additional investment and capacity.
With the NHS facing a real-terms cut to its funding due to rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures, local services are already in need of at least an additional £4 billion this year alone. This includes ongoing Covid costs that were not budgeted for, soaring energy bills, and a gap of £1.8 billion following the unbudgeted pay increase for NHS staff that was awarded in July. NHS Confederation
See also:
- NHS bosses’ plea to politicians: no more targets The Guardian
A framework for NHS action on social determinants of health
A framework for NHS action on social determinants of health There is growing interest in the role of health care systems in influencing the social determinants of health. Social determinants include income, employment, housing and other social factors, which interact to shape the conditions in which people live. These factors play a major role in shaping health and health inequalities – and are influenced by local, regional and national policies. The Health Foundation
The cost-of-living crisis is a health emergency too
The cost-of-living crisis is a health emergency too For the second time in 2 years, the UK is in the midst of an economic and health crisis. The rising cost of living risks many being unable to afford essentials to maintain their health, and bringing increased stress and anxiety as families try to make ends meet. The Health Foundation
Tackling cardiovascular disease: why the urgency?
Tackling cardiovascular disease: why the urgency? Between the 1970s and early 2000s, there were dramatic falls in the number of people dying from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) globally, a result of lifestyle changes and medical advances. This has driven unprecedented improvements in life expectancy. The number of people dying of CVDs in the UK fell by almost 70 per cent between 1980 and 2013. Given these spectacular declines, some consider the subsequent slowdown in the rate of improvement as inevitable. But does this mean the job of tackling CVDs is done? The evidence suggests not by a long margin and The NHS Long Term Plan identifies CVDs as ‘the single biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years’. The King's Fund
Five point plan for county and unitary councils: point three
Five point plan for county and unitary councils: point three With a year to go until the introduction of flagship reforms in adult social care, England’s largest councils today call for a delay – warning that the system is under so much pressure care services could be worsened if they are introduced too soon.
From October 2023, reforms to protect people from catastrophic care costs and make more people eligible for state support with their care costs come into force. These include a more generous means-test and a cap on care costs of £86,000 – two policies which are supported by the County Councils Network (CCN).
But the CCN warns that the system is under serious pressure currently, with councils facing a ‘perfect storm’ of financial and workforce pressures that mean the government should push back their introduction to October 2024.
The call comes in a new report released today by the CCN. The document is Point Three of the network’s Five Point Plan for County and Unitary Councils, designed to influence the policies of the new government.
See also:
- Social care: Delay cap on costs to ease crisis, councils warn BBC News
- Social care: 'Jo's care will cost £1.5k a week - the system is broken' BBC News
- Social care reforms should be delayed for another two years to avoid making 'perfect storm' worse, council chiefs warn The Daily Mail
- What are ‘the five pillars’ for social care reform? Home Care Insight
UKHSA and ONS release estimates of excess deaths during summer of 2022
UKHSA and ONS release estimates of excess deaths during summer of 2022 A joint report by UKHSA and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the effect of this summer’s record temperatures on excess mortality. UK Health Security Agency
See also:
- Excess mortality during heat-periods: 1 June to 31 August 2022 UK Health Security Agency
Independent report: RAPID C-19 Oversight Group report: review of Evusheld
Independent report: RAPID C-19 Oversight Group report: review of Evusheld summary of the evidence on efficacy of Evusheld as a prophylactic treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19) considered by the RAPID C-19 Oversight Group. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 40, 2021 to 2022) UK Health Security Agency
- Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk UK Health Security Agency
- National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
NHS set to boost GP workforce ahead of winter
NHS set to boost GP workforce ahead of winter Thousands more staff will be recruited to new roles in General Practice, so family doctors’ time can be freed up to see more patients during winter, the NHS has announced today.
More than one thousand GP assistants will be recruited to practices from this month to offer more admin support with the roles already proven to reduce the time GPs spend on tasks such as writing letters by more than two-fifths.
GP assistants will be trained to do blood pressure checks, heart rate and blood tests as well as arranging appointments, referrals and follow-up care for patients. NHS England
See also:
- High street pharmacists treat thousands more people for minor illnesses NHS England
- Recruitment of ‘GP Assistants’ a positive step, but they are not a substitute for GPs Royal College of General Practitioners
- NHS will hire 1,000 recruits to carry out basic checks and give jabs to tackle appointments backlog The Daily Mail
- GP assistants are no solution to the workforce crisis in general practice, warns RCGP GPonline
- Podcast: Surge in GP vacancies, a plan for GP retention and how summer demand matched a pre-pandemic winter GPonline
Stem cell patch surgery to mend spina bifida in the womb
Stem cell patch surgery to mend spina bifida in the womb US doctors say they have successfully carried out surgery on babies in the womb to repair harmful spine defects using a special, therapeutic stem cell patch method.
Experts hope the pioneering research at UC Davis Health could help others with spina bifida - when the spinal cord and spine do not develop properly.
Three of the babies in the trial have now been born.
The team will monitor them for at least six years. BBC News
See also:
We must challenge 'doctor knows best' attitude, bereaved mother says
We must challenge 'doctor knows best' attitude, bereaved mother says Merope Mills, an editor at the Guardian, has questioned doctors' attitudes after her 13-year-old daughter Martha's preventable death in hospital.
Martha had sustained a rare pancreatic trauma after falling off a bike on a family holiday, and spent weeks in a specialist unit where she developed sepsis.
An inquest concluded that her death was preventable, and the hospital apologised. BBC News
NHS England could face £7bn budget shortfall next year, finance chief warns
NHS England could face £7bn budget shortfall next year, finance chief warns GP services, cancer care and mental health treatment may face cuts because of an NHS budget shortfall of up to £7bn next year, the health service’s finance chief has said.
Waiting times could increase and overstretched A&E units could face even greater challenges in dealing with the surge in patients needing medical attention, he added. The Guardian
Emergency 999 call operators set to walk out for first time in strike over BT pay
Emergency 999 call operators set to walk out for first time in strike over BT pay Emergency 999 call handlers have gone on strike with colleagues from BT - which runs their phone lines - in a row over pay.
Hundreds of operators were set to walk out on Thursday, with the union behind the action warning there could be disruption to emergency services as a result.
The Communication Workers Union said it was the first time 999 call operators had gone on strike. The Independent
Thursday, 6 October 2022
NHS calls for more steward volunteers to boost community's immunity in North Northants
NHS calls for more steward volunteers to boost community's immunity in North Northants The NHS and NHS Volunteer Responders are calling for more people in North Northamptonshire to volunteer to support the Covid-19 vaccination programme to protect the health of their community and those most at risk.
North Northamptonshire needs 100 more steward volunteers to step forward to support at local vaccination sites, and existing local volunteers are once again being asked to reach for their high-vis vests and book volunteering shifts. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Bereavement is everyone’s business
Bereavement is everyone’s business shows how bereavement impacts us all. From dealing with complicated administration, to coping with financial and housing insecurity, …plus the challenges of returning to work or school after a bereavement, being bereaved throws up challenges in every area of life.
The findings follow one of the largest ever consultations on bereavement support undertaken in the UK, which included over 1,000 adult and 100 child respondents to the UKCB’s surveys and evidence submitted from over 130 organisations. The UK Commission on Bereavement
See also:
- 750,000 extra bereavements during pandemic amid ‘huge’ support gap – report Evening Standard
- Covid bereavement in UK has affected prospects of tens of thousands – report The Guardian
Long Covid: a framework for nursing, midwifery, and care staff
Long Covid: a framework for nursing, midwifery, and care staff This framework supports nurses, midwives and care staff in ensuring care remains at a high standard, as well as demonstrating the contribution to the long Covid response. It aims to give the opportunity to embrace collective leadership in supporting people and communities served and showcase good practice as it emerges across England. NHS England
Union urges UK nurses to strike for first time
Union urges UK nurses to strike for first time The Royal College of Nursing is balloting all of its UK members for strike action for the first time in its 106-year history.
The union is recommending its 300,000 members walk out over pay, with the result of the ballot due next month.
If strikes go ahead, the RCN says they would affect non-urgent but not emergency care.
The government has urged nurses to "carefully consider" the impact on patients. BBC News
See also:
- Nurses' pay has fallen twice as much as private sector pay, union reveals as first UK-wide strike ballot of NHS nursing staff opens Royal College of Nursing
- RCN’s biggest ever strike ballot now open Royal College of Nursing
- Nurses start voting on strikes! Royal College says 'enough is enough' and demands 17% pay rise The Daily Mail
- Nurses across UK to vote in first ever RCN strike ballot over pay The Guardian
- Nurses to vote on strikes in Royal College of Nursing’s first ever UK-wide ballot The Independent
- Northampton nurse says ‘enough is enough’ ahead of historic strike vote Northampton Chronicle and Echo
- Health secretary says she is ‘responding’ to staff retention issues Nursing Times
- Nurses to vote on strike action in Royal College of Nursing's first ever UK-wide ballot Sky News
HIV: How 175 British children were infected with disease
HIV: How 175 British children were infected with disease At least 175 children with the blood disorder haemophilia were infected with HIV in the 1980s, according to documents from the national archives seen by BBC News. Some of the families affected are giving evidence at a public inquiry into what has been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
Mental health: NHS looks to digital and data to close 'historic treatment gap'
Mental health: NHS looks to digital and data to close 'historic treatment gap' The NHS is to embark upon a programme through which it hopes to improve its use of digital technology and data in order to close the “historic treatment gap in mental health provision”.
National body NHS England and Improvement is shortly planning to launch a four-month discovery exercise, during which it plans to undertake “multiple investigatory pieces of work” looking at how tech platforms and data sharing could – at a local level – be incorporated into care pathways for patients accessing mental-health services. Public Technology
More than 2.3 million long Covid sufferers in UK as cases jump by 15%
More than 2.3 million long Covid sufferers in UK as cases jump by 15% Some 2.3 million people in the UK are living with long Covid, official figures show - an increase of 300,000.
The Office for National Statistics said that 2 million people living in private households reported symptoms as of 3 September.
This was up from 2 million in the previous period reported of July, the ONS added. The Independent
See also:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights Office for National Statistics
- Return of the mask! Five NHS trusts have already brought back mandatory face covering rules The Daily Mail
- Over 2.3 million people living with long Covid in UK Evening Standard
- ‘Swarm’ of new Covid subvariants could drive wave across Europe and the US by end of November, expert warns The Independent
- Covid inquiry ‘marginalising’ bereaved on first day of hearing The Independent
- Dr Fauci predicts new Covid variant could lead to winter surge The Independent
- COVID immune reaction could affect brain mechanisms and induce neurological symptoms Sky News
Record number of Black blood donors needed to treat sickle cell disease, NHS says
Record number of Black blood donors needed to treat sickle cell disease, NHS says A record number of Black blood donors are needed to treat the growing number of people in the UK affected by sickle cell disease, the NHS has said.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is calling on people to come forward because there is “more demand for care than ever before” and that “ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment”. The Independent
New drug could be ‘gamechanger’ for chronic cough sufferers
New drug could be ‘gamechanger’ for chronic cough sufferers A new drug to treat chronic coughs could be a “gamechanger” treatment for the thousands of Britons who cough uncontrollably, many times a day.
Prof Surinder Birring, a leading lung doctor, has led a global trial that found Gefapixant reduces a person’s coughing by up to 60% and brings some relief to 70% of those who take it. The Guardian
Revealed: Babies have air pollution particles in their lungs while they're still in the WOMB
Revealed: Babies have air pollution particles in their lungs while they're still in the WOMB Unborn babies have air pollution particles in their developing lungs and other vital organs as early as the first trimester, a landmark study has found.
Pollutants from traffic fumes can pass through the mother's bloodstream, into the placenta through to the baby's developing organs within the first 12 weeks.
Experts believe it could mean pregnant women living in the most polluted parts of the country are at greater risk of stillbirth and babies born with health problems. The Daily Mail
See also:
STI hotspots revealed: Map shows the worst areas for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and super illness
STI hotspots revealed: Map shows the worst areas for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and super illness London, Lincolnshire and Liverpool are England's chlamydia hotspots, according to official data.
Rates of the STI have plunged to a record low. Fewer than 160,000 cases were logged in 2021 — down by a third on pre-pandemic levels. The Daily Mail
Wednesday, 5 October 2022
How can managers and leaders support staff wellbeing in the NHS?
How can managers and leaders support staff wellbeing in the NHS? Much has been (and will continue to be) written on the NHS workforce crisis; which is really a knot of overlapping crises, some long-standing, others more recent, that grows more intractable with the passing of time. It’s important to say that much of this knot is a consequence of political choices, there’s nothing inevitable about it. But until different choices are made the challenges in the health and care workforce will continue to fall to the workforce to manage and solve. The King's Fund
Health and wellbeing communications guide
Health and wellbeing communications guide This guide provides practical tools that will help NHS health and wellbeing and staff experience leads deliver successful campaigns and initiatives. NHS Employers
More support needed for international nurses and midwives
More support needed for international nurses and midwives This analysis reveals that the profile of international professionals registered in 2021–2022 is very different from UK joiners and the register they joined. They’re more likely to be men and they’re much more likely to be ethnically diverse. The NMC is calling on health and care employers to fully support internationally trained professionals into UK practice – and join with UK trained nurses and midwives to create the most inclusive environment possible. Nursing and Midwifery Council
Eating within set times good for shift workers
Eating within set times good for shift workers Eating meals within set hours of the day may be a good way for shift workers to feel better and stay healthier, researchers say.
Their working patterns are known to play havoc with the body's rhythms, raising the risk of disease.
In a study, firefighters working 24-hour shifts reduced their "bad" cholesterol and blood pressure, by eating within a 10-hour window.
And those with existing health conditions benefited the most. BBC News
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Tony Hickmott: Autistic man to be released after 21 years in hospital
Tony Hickmott: Autistic man to be released after 21 years in hospital An autistic man who has been held in a secure hospital for 21 years has been told he can finally go home.
Tony Hickmott, 45, was sectioned after he had a mental health crisis in 2001, and despite a long fight by his family, he has not been released since.
Last year, a judge criticised his detention, telling authorities to find a home near his parents, in Brighton.
A care team for Mr Hickmott is now being assembled and he is expected in a new home in his home town, next month. BBC News
UK economic policies ‘likely to cause many more deaths than Covid’
UK economic policies ‘likely to cause many more deaths than Covid’ The UK government’s economic policies are “likely” to have caused a “great many more deaths” than the Covid pandemic, an academic has claimed.
Researchers said their “not only shocking but shameful” statistics showed that almost 335,000 more deaths than expected were recorded across Scotland, England and Wales over an eight-year period. The Independent
See also:
- Bearing the burden of austerity: how do changing mortality rates in the UK compare between men and women? (open access) Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Thérèse Coffey is leaving the UK vulnerable to monkeypox
Thérèse Coffey is leaving the UK vulnerable to monkeypox | Ceri Smith Reports that new health secretary, Thérèse Coffey, has rejected her officials’ expert advice to procure an additional 70,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine are deeply concerning and shortsighted.
Less than a month into the role, Coffey is said to have gone against the recommendation of those who have been leading the country’s response, and made a critical decision that leaves the UK vulnerable to future outbreaks of monkeypox. The Guardian
Rates of little-known super-STI 'that causes infertility' have spiralled 60-FOLD within last decade
Rates of little-known super-STI 'that causes infertility' have spiralled 60-FOLD within last decade Rates of a super-STI which can cause infertility in women have soared 60-fold over the last decade, official figures revealed today.
More than 5,000 cases of mycoplasma genitalium — which is becoming resistant to drugs — were logged in England in 2021.
By comparison, just 79 cases of MG were recorded when experts first proved it was a sexually transmitted infection seven years ago. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Official Statistics: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables UK Health Security Agency
Underperforming NHS hospitals 'are being dragged in for Cobra-style meetings'
Underperforming NHS hospitals 'are being dragged in for Cobra-style meetings' More than a dozen underperforming hospitals are being dragged in for emergency meetings with ministers in a bid to tackle the handover delay crisis, it was reported today.
Bosses from 15 NHS sites, including in Birmingham, Leicester and the South West, have been summoned for talks to set out ways they can discharge patients faster to make space in hospitals. The Daily Mail
Hospital parking fees scandal continues as analysis shows one site charges £76 A DAY
Hospital parking fees scandal continues as analysis shows one site charges £76 A DAY Hospitals are piling pressure on ambulance services by charging patients up to £76.80 a day to park, campaigners warned yesterday.
They said sky-high parking fees mean many sick Britons can no longer afford to drive to A&E and rely on 999 vehicles instead.
Researchers analysed parking charges at 120 of England's top hospitals. The Daily Mail
Tuesday, 4 October 2022
Northampton comes together to 'commemorate and remember' those affected by Covid-19
Northampton comes together to 'commemorate and remember' those affected by Covid-19 Northampton will come together to commemorate, reflect and remember those affected by Covid-19 this weekend.
An afternoon of reflection is planned for Sunday (October 9) in Abington Park with a service around the iconic bandstand from 2pm.
The service will be held against a backdrop of a new autumn wave of coronavirus pushing numbers of patients with the virus in Northamptonshire's hospitals hit the highest level in two months, according to latest NHS data. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The courage to press the pause button: the role of OD in supporting health and care leaders
The courage to press the pause button: the role of OD in supporting health and care leaders In early July, alumni participants of The King’s Fund’s Advanced Organisational Development (OD) programme met to share their experiences and explore the role of OD during some of the most complex times the health and social care system has ever faced. In the same week, the Health and Social Care Select Committee identified acute shortages and high turnover of staff across the sector; the stories that afternoon came to life against this backdrop. The King's Fund
Ipsos Global Health Service Monitor 2022
Ipsos Global Health Service Monitor 2022 This annual study explores the biggest health challenges facing people today and how well-equipped people think their country’s healthcare services are to tackle them. The survey was run in 34 countries between 22nd July and 5th August 2022. Key findings in the report include: for a third year, Coronavirus remains the biggest health problem facing people around the world (47 per cent globally, down from 70 per cent in 2021); and mental health (36 per cent) has experienced a five-point increase from 2021, making it the second biggest concern — for the first time, it is ahead of cancer (34 per cent) which is now third. Ipsos
Covid inquiry first preliminary hearing to begin
Covid inquiry first preliminary hearing to begin The first preliminary hearing of the UK Covid public inquiry will begin later.
The one-day hearing had originally been scheduled last month but was delayed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The session, in London, will focus on the UK's pandemic preparedness before 2020.
It will be largely procedural, involving lawyers and an announcement about who will be giving evidence. Public hearings where witnesses are called will not start until the spring. BBC News
See also:
- COVID inquiry: the UK government’s pandemic response was often not ‘guided by the science’ – yet now scientists are under fire The Conversation
- Why you really DON'T need to panic about Covid's resurgence: Experts argue new wave was inevitable The Daily Mail
- Should YOU be worried about a flu and Covid TWINDEMIC this winter? The Daily Mail
- UK ‘no better prepared for the next pandemic’ with ‘dangerous gaps’ in its health security The Daily Telegraph
- Covid-19: is there a ‘twindemic’ coming? – podcast The Guardian
- Covid bereaved fear testimonies will not be heard by inquiry The Independent
- UK ‘at start of new Covid wave that could devastate the NHS’ Metro
Edenfield Centre: Care watchdog praised bosses at abuse hospital
Edenfield Centre: Care watchdog praised bosses at abuse hospital The healthcare watchdog praised bosses of a mental health hospital after visiting during the weeks when the BBC filmed patients being mistreated.
According to a report to governors at the trust which runs the Edenfield Centre, the Care Quality Commission noted its "strong, motivated leaders".
After the BBC gave it information about the abuse, the watchdog suspended the hospital's "good" rating.
The CQC said it would take further action if needed. BBC News
Schools and hospitals ‘must find £11bn of cuts’ after Kwarteng spending freeze
Schools and hospitals ‘must find £11bn of cuts’ after Kwarteng spending freeze Schools and hospitals must find a whopping £11bn of cuts after the chancellor refused to protect their budgets from rampant inflation, experts say.
Kwasi Kwarteng is being warned that his decision to stick to 2021 spending allocations – despite prices now rising by 10 per cent – spells bad news “for stretched public services”. The Independent
See also:
Hundreds of thousands more women than men prescribed powerful anti-anxiety drugs ‘harder to come off than heroin’
Hundreds of thousands more women than men prescribed powerful anti-anxiety drugs ‘harder to come off than heroin’ Hundreds of thousands more women than men have been prescribed powerful anti-anxiety drugs which experts warn are harder to come off than heroin, The Independent can reveal.
New information obtained under freedom of information (FOI) laws shows women in England were 59 per cent more likely to be prescribed benzodiazepines – better known by the brand names of Valium, Xanax and Temazapam – than men between January 2017 and December 2021.
NHS to investigate health inequalities among Jewish communities for first time
NHS to investigate health inequalities among Jewish communities for first time The NHS will investigate health inequalities affecting Jewish communities for the first time.
Low immunisations, high Covid-19 rates and heightened breast cancer risks are among some of the disproportionate well-being issues faced by these groups and will be examined through a year-long review commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory. The Independent
NHS hospitals are still cancelling more than 22 THOUSAND appointments every day
NHS hospitals are still cancelling more than 22 THOUSAND appointments every day More than 22,000 hospital appointments are being cancelled every day — despite waiting lists for treatment standing at a record 6.8million, it emerged today.
The Government has pledged to tackle the NHS care backlog but some patients are continuing to see their appointments cancelled multiple times.
So far this year, the average number of cancellations each day was 20 per cent more than it was before the pandemic, when around 18,000 were axed every day. The Daily Mail
Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does NOT raise risk of having an autistic child
Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does NOT raise risk of having an autistic child Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not raise the risk of autism in newborns, a major study has found.
Both antidepressant use and the prevalence of autism have increased in recent years, and previous studies suggested the two might be linked.
But while researchers found women taking the drugs had a higher risk of having a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder, the medication was not to blame. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Association of Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy With Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children (abstract) JAMA Internal Medicine
Will the new Alzheimer's drug ward off brain decline?
Will the new Alzheimer's drug ward off brain decline? Could the tide finally be turning in the hunt for an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease? That was the suggestion from a story last week about a new drug, lecanemab, which seems to improve symptoms of early Alzheimer’s. The Daily Mail
Monday, 3 October 2022
People urged not to ignore COVID-19 booster invitation – as difficult winter could lie ahead
People urged not to ignore COVID-19 booster invitation – as difficult winter could lie ahead It’s that time of the year when colds and flu sweep through the nation.
But this year it’s more important than ever to get a booster jab, not only against the flu season but also COVID-19. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Hospitals at capacity: understanding delays in patient discharge
Hospitals at capacity: understanding delays in patient discharge This QualityWatch blog from Sophie Flinders and Sarah Scobie takes a closer look at the rising number of patients facing delays in leaving hospital – and explores the reasons for why it’s happening. Nuffield Trust
The NHS nursing workforce – have the floodgates opened?
The NHS nursing workforce – have the floodgates opened? Despite the constant pressures and chronic shortages, the number of nurses leaving the NHS had flatlined over recent years. Now our analysis of new data shows there has been a large increase in nurses leaving the NHS, and that this trend is being driven by younger workers.
The last year's data (June 2021 - June 2022) saw a 25 per cent increase in the number of NHS nurses leaving their role, with an additional 7,000 leaving compared to the previous year. The largest increase in numbers leaving was seen among the younger nurses, two thirds of leavers were under 45 years of age. The King's Fund
Junior doctors to ballot in early January for industrial action
Junior doctors to ballot in early January for industrial action The BMA junior doctors committee has today voted to go to a ballot for industrial action in early January.
Junior doctors have now entered a trade dispute and will request approval from BMA council, the union’s principal executive committee, to ballot junior doctors in England from around the 9 January. What form that industrial action will take will be decided at a later date.
See also:
- Disastrous NHS strikes inch another step closer as BMA gives doctors a £2million war chest The Daily Mail
- British Medical Association raps top physician for suggesting doctors should not go on strike The Daily Mail
- BMA sets up first-ever ‘strike fund’ to support industrial action GPonline
- Junior doctors to be balloted on industrial action in early January GPonline
- I'm a junior doctor – here's why I'm prepared to go on strike The Independent
Consensus statements and medium-term projections on COVID-19
Consensus statements and medium-term projections on COVID-19 Consensus statements and medium-term projections from the UK Health Security Agency's Epidemiology Modelling Review Group (EMRG).
See also:
- Policy paper: Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme Department of Health and Social Care
- Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
- Official Statistics: Surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses in the UK, winter 2021 to 2022 UK Health Security Agency
Covid infections rise by 14% in a week in UK
Covid infections rise by 14% in a week in UK Covid infections in the UK are rising and have topped more than one million, according to official estimates.
There has been a 14% rise in people testing positive in the week to 20 September - the biggest increase since the summer.
But there is no clear evidence of an autumn Covid wave starting, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS). BBC News
See also:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 30 September 2022 Office for National Statistics
- Government must do all it can to deliver booster programme amid rising Covid cases BMA
- Autumn Covid wave officially kicks off: NHS virus admissions jump by HALF in a week The Daily Mail
- Experts warn the UK is ALREADY at the start of a 'devastating' Covid wave The Daily Mail
- Latest Covid surge a ‘heavy straw on camel’s back’ for every hospital in UK The Guardian
- Covid has left a third of young people feeling life is out of control – study The Guardian
- Bereaved families fear Covid inquiry cover-up after ban on testimony The Guardian
- Covid infections on the rise in the UK The Independent
- UK ‘blind’ to new immune-evasive Covid variants creating ‘perfect storm’ for devastating wave The Independent
UK looks to be winning the fight against monkeypox
UK looks to be winning the fight against monkeypox The UK's monkeypox situation is looking "very positive" with cases continuing to fall, says one of Britain's leading infectious disease modellers.
Prof Neil Ferguson believes vaccines and vigilance have helped drive cases down from a peak in July this year.
The scare started in May when the UK saw cases of the disease traditionally confined to parts of Africa.
The UK has recorded more than 3,500 cases, but in recent weeks there have been fewer than 100 new infections. BBC News
Black and Asian infected blood victims feel let down, inquiry told
Black and Asian infected blood victims feel let down, inquiry told Some African and Asian patients who were given contaminated blood transfusions in the 1970s and 80s feel they have been "let down" compared with people who were born in the UK, an inquiry has heard.
The infected blood inquiry has heard evidence about three witnesses from Kenya and Pakistan.
All were told they probably contracted hepatitis C outside the UK. BBC News
Number of 'dental deserts' across England growing, figures show
Number of 'dental deserts' across England growing, figures show The number of “dental deserts” is growing across England, according to a new analysis.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said figures show a lack of NHS dentists in several parts of the country, with deprived and rural areas having fewer dentists than richer and urban areas. The Independent
See also:
- NHS “dental deserts” persist in rural and deprived communities Local Government Association
England skin and breast cancer patients have worst waiting time to see specialist
England skin and breast cancer patients have worst waiting time to see specialist Patients with suspected skin and breast cancer have experienced the largest increase in waiting times of everyone urgently referred to a cancer specialist, with one in 20 patients now facing the longest waits, analysis of NHS England data shows.
Almost 10,000 patients referred by a GP to a cancer specialist had to wait for more 28 days – double the supposed maximum 14-day waiting time – in July. Three-quarters of them were suspected of having skin, breast or lower gastrointestinal cancer, a Guardian analysis has revealed.
New NHS hospitals might have to be built for single patient rooms only
New NHS hospitals might have to be built for single patient rooms only New NHS hospitals could be built without wards, it was claimed today.
Patients may instead be housed in their own rooms, under plans being considered by health chiefs.
It would mark a major change to traditional NHS designs, which, for decades, have relied on multi-bed wards. The Daily Mail
NHS maternity failures leading to avoidable stillbirths have cost £65m in a decade, analysis shows
NHS maternity failures leading to avoidable stillbirths have cost £65m in a decade, analysis shows Catastrophic failures on NHS maternity units that led to avoidable stillbirths have cost almost £65 million in compensation payouts over the past decade.
Data analysis seen exclusively by The Mail on Sunday shows that the NHS has been found guilty of negligence in 758 cases of stillbirth since 2010. This resulted in an average payout of £39,000 per family – a total of almost £30 million – along with a further £34.8 million in legal fees.
Friday, 30 September 2022
Nearly a quarter of Northampton General Hospital capacity taken up by bed-blockers waiting to be discharged
Nearly a quarter of Northampton General Hospital capacity taken up by bed-blockers waiting to be discharged NHS chiefs say Government plans to tackle bed-blocking do not go far enough as figures revealed nearly a quarter of Northampton General Hospital beds are occupied by patients who do not need to be there.
Latest NHS England data showed 214 people in NGH were medically cleared to leave hospital on August 31.
Those patients should be moved to a care home or offered home support but staff shortages in the sector meant only 45 of those were actually able to go. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
STOPTOBER 2022: Quit now for good of your health and wealth, message to Northamptonshire smokers
STOPTOBER 2022: Quit now for good of your health and wealth, message to Northamptonshire smokers It’s nearly Stoptober and health chiefs are encouraging the estimated 95,000 smokers across Northamptonshire to quit for better health and more wealth.
This year marks the 11th national stop smoking campaign, Stoptober, based on research that those who can stay smoke free for 28 days are five times more likely to quit for good. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Peak leaving? A spotlight on nurse leaver rates in the UK
Peak leaving? A spotlight on nurse leaver rates in the UK Nursing is the single largest profession in the NHS, but it suffers from substantial staffing shortages. This analysis from Billy Palmer and Lucina Rolewicz reflects on the rate at which the health service is losing nurses, and considers the reasons why. Nuffield Trust
See also:
Concerns for NHS staff and patients as cost of living pressures hit health services
Concerns for NHS staff and patients as cost of living pressures hit health services Nurses are skipping meals to feed and clothe their children, and staff are finding it hard to make the journey to work due to rising living costs a new survey reveals.
Every trust which responded reported concerns about the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of staff as a result of the cost of living.
One trust leader said: "For some staff this is the final straw psychologically after two years of COVID-19."
Food banks and debt counselling are among ways trusts are helping staff to cope with financial hardship. NHS Providers
See also:
- Rising living costs: the impact on NHS, staff and patients (survey results) NHS Providers
- NHS nurses not eating at work in order to feed their children, survey finds The Guardian
- NHS staff quitting for private sector jobs as cost of living crisis intensifies, leaders warn The Independent
- NHS staff ‘leaving for better paid jobs in retail’ with staff sickness due to mental health rising ITV News
- Cost-of-living crisis: Nurses leaving for better-paid jobs in shops because 'they can't afford to work for NHS' Sky News
What are the public’s priorities for the NHS? And is the government listening?
What are the public’s priorities for the NHS? And is the government listening? Understanding where the public’s key priorities are is crucial for any government. These latest findings from our programme of public polling, delivered in partnership with Ipsos, provide new insight into what the public thinks about the NHS. We surveyed a representative sample of 2,068 people aged 16 years and older in the UK between 26 May and 1 June. The Health Foundation
Health and care LGBTQ+ inclusion framework
Health and care LGBTQ+ inclusion framework The LGBTQ+ population in the UK experiences significant physical and mental health inequalities compared to the general population. These inequalities extend from increased risk factors for ill health and barriers to accessing health care and support, to discrimination against LGBTQ+ staff within the workplace. This framework comprises six key pillars of inclusivity that organisations should aim to build to create and maintain inclusive cultures: visible leadership and confident staff; a strong knowledge base; being non-heteronormative and non-cisnormative; collecting and reporting data; listening to service users; and proactively seeking out partners to co-deliver services. NHS Confederation
NHS 111’s response to callers with Covid-19-related symptoms during the pandemic
NHS 111’s response to callers with Covid-19-related symptoms during the pandemic The purpose of this investigation is to support improvements in the delivery of NHS 111 and other telephone triage services during a national healthcare emergency. The investigation uses real patient safety incidents involving Patients and their families who dialled NHS 111 (and were either managed through NHS 111 or the Covid-19 Response Service [CRS]) for advice during the Covid-19 pandemic. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch
See also:
- Covid vulnerable not always assessed by NHS 111 early in pandemic BBC News
- NHS 111 failures led to early Covid deaths, investigation finds The Guardian
National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published
National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Surveillance indicators suggest that, at a national level, COVID-19 activity has increased in most indicators in week 38 of 2022.
The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) increased in England in week 38 to 170 compared to 133 in the previous week.
Positivity for pillar one laboratory confirmed cases for week 38 was 6.9 per 100,000 population, an increase from 5.5 in the previous week. There was a large increase in those aged over 80.
The hospital admission rate for week 38 was 7.62 per 100,000 population, an increase from 4.96 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency
See also:
- Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 28 September 2022 World Health Organization
- Rise in Covid cases and hospital patients shows ‘winter wave’ has begun, government official warns The Independent
- Autumn Covid wave arrives with one-in-32 infected Pulse
- COVID hospital admissions in England highest since August amid new 'autumn wave' Sky News
UK NSC recommends introduction of targeted lung cancer screening
UK NSC recommends introduction of targeted lung cancer screening The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has given a positive recommendation for the introduction of the country’s first targeted national cancer screening programme.
At its first meeting following the approval of its expanded remit, the committee recommended that the 4 UK nations should move towards implementing a targeted national lung cancer screening programme, integrated with smoking cessation services, for people at high risk.
See also:
Young non-smokers told not to take up vaping by experts
Young non-smokers told not to take up vaping by experts Young non-smokers are being advised not to take up vaping.
Researchers looked at the evidence and say while vaping is far safer than cigarettes, the long-term effects of vapes are still unknown.
Vaping causes less exposure to harmful toxins than smoking, say the experts, who were tasked by the government with looking at the issue.
In recent years there's been a rise in vaping, particularly in young people. BBC News
See also:
- Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Thérèse Coffey scraps promised paper on health inequality
Thérèse Coffey scraps promised paper on health inequality Thérèse Coffey is ditching the government’s long-promised white paper on health inequalities, despite the 19-year gap in life expectancy between rich and poor, the Guardian has been told.
The health secretary has decided to not publish a document that was due to set out plans to address the stark inequalities in health that the Covid-19 pandemic exposed.
Vaccination rates for ALL 14 childhood jabs 'has fallen in the last year'
Vaccination rates for ALL 14 childhood jabs 'has fallen in the last year' Outbreaks of measles and polio are now 'likely', top experts warned today as official statistics revealed childhood vaccination rates have plunged.
Uptake now sits below the key 95 per cent threshold for all 14 inoculations routinely offered to children.
This includes for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), which has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. Take-up has also hit a record low for the six-in-one vaccine, which protects against polio, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Hib, tetanus and diphtheria. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Parents warned about dangers of children missing vaccines UK Health Security Agency
- ‘Extremely worrying’ drop in childhood vaccinations since the pandemic The Daily Telegraph
- Thousands of children at risk as vaccination rates fall in England The Guardian
GP face-to-face appointments are now at highest level since Covid kicked off
GP face-to-face appointments are now at highest level since Covid kicked off The proportion of people seeing their GP face-to-face has risen to its highest level since the start of the pandemic, official figures show.
Two-thirds of appointments with family doctors in England last month were in-person, according to the latest data from NHS Digital. The 66.1 per cent figure is still well below the 80 per cent average before the pandemic struck.
However, it is the highest rate since March 2020, when the UK was plunged into its first national lockdown as the coronavirus swept across the country. The Daily Mail
See also:
Thursday, 29 September 2022
Northampton General Hospital stroke patients' initiative shortlisted for top national award
Northampton General Hospital stroke patients' initiative shortlisted for top national award A team from Northampton General Hospital is in the finals of a top innovation award for the way they have involved patients in shaping future care.
The NGH Community Stroke Team is among 10 shortlisted for the Innovate Awards 2022 for their “putting the patient at the centre of all we do – living a meaningful and fulfilling life after stroke” initiative. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The NGH Community Stroke Team is among 10 shortlisted for the Innovate Awards 2022 for their “putting the patient at the centre of all we do – living a meaningful and fulfilling life after stroke” initiative. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
If integrated care cannot tackle inclusion health, we should all be worried
If integrated care cannot tackle inclusion health, we should all be worried This summer a huge restructure created 42 new NHS integrated care boards to plan and fund NHS services, and to deliver improvements on population health across an integrated care system. This is not a renaming of current ways of working but is intended use the new structures to work in new ways. Looking to next year, now is the time for the ‘so what?’ of system change – as the start-up focus on terms of reference subsides. The King's Fund
It’s not just about speed of access: we must ensure patients with the greatest needs can see a GP
It’s not just about speed of access: we must ensure patients with the greatest needs can see a GP Rebecca Rosen argues that, until we have enough GPs to meet demand for appointments, we have to make sure that patients with the greatest needs can see a doctor. She discusses the importance of triage in general practice and describes five policy approaches that could improve access. Nuffield Trust
Digital transformation in the NHS
Digital transformation in the NHS This document contains views from across the NHS about progress on digital innovation and what more is needed to facilitate full digital transformation. NHS Confederation
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