Scarlet fever cases rise tenfold as parents struggle to find Strep A antibiotics

Scarlet fever cases rise tenfold as parents struggle to find Strep A antibiotics Scarlet fever cases have surged by tenfold in a year, official data shows, as pharmacists grapple with a shortage of antibiotics during a Strep A outbreak.

Strep A bacteria usually only causes mild illness, including scarlet fever and strep throat, which is treated with antibiotics. But in rare cases, it can progress into a potentially life-threatening disease if it gets into the bloodstream.

Infections are higher than normal for this time of year, and at least nine children have died after contracting the bacteria in recent weeks. The Independent

See also:

• Antibiotics for strep A in good supply, says health secretary Steve Barclay BBC News
• Don't send children with SORE THROATS to school, parents are told amid Strep A outbreak The Daily Mail
• Will FACE MASKS creep back into classrooms amid Strep A outbreak? The Daily Mail
• UK pharmacists report shortages of strep A antibiotics The Guardian
• Will preventive antibiotics stop deadly strep A among schoolchildren? The Guardian
• Strep A cases in your area as hundreds of infections reported across UK The Independent
• Strep A: Two children in hospital and 30 ill after scarlet fever outbreak at Carmarthenshire school ITV News

NHS workers could be banned from striking, No 10 suggests

NHS workers could be banned from striking, No 10 suggests Striking NHS workers could be targeted as part of Rishi Sunak’s promised “tough” new measures to curb a wave of industrial action, Downing Street has suggested.

No 10 said the government had not ruled out plans to stop industrial action by nurses and ambulance drivers – a significant escalation from previous threats to clamp down on striking rail workers. The Guardian

See also:

• Ambulance strikes 2022: When they are and what to do if you need emergency help The Daily Telegraph
• Ambulances may not get to all emergency calls during strikes, says Barclay The Guardian
• NHS staff could be banned from striking, says cabinet minister The Independent

I can’t get my HRT, again – this second UK shortage wasn’t supposed to happen

I can’t get my HRT, again – this second UK shortage wasn’t supposed to happen | Rose George The government claims that supply issues have been tackled, but menopausal women know this is far from the truth. The Guardian

Covid-19 UK: NHS begs over-50s to get coronavirus booster jabs ahead of Xmas amid surge in cases

Covid-19 UK: NHS begs over-50s to get coronavirus booster jabs ahead of Xmas amid surge in cases Over-50s are being urged to get their Covid booster vaccines ahead of Christmas, with cases on the rise once again.

Health chiefs have dished out 14.4million autumn boosters in England so far but 38 per cent of eligible adults are still yet to get their fifth dose, official data shows.

NHS England's chief executive Amanda Pritchard said 'the best thing' they can do to get protected against the virus and aid the struggling health service is get another jab. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS marks world first Covid-19 jab with booster plea ahead of Christmas NHS England
• Londoner gets first double lung transplant due to Covid complications BBC News
• Matt Hancock: I was warned 820,000 in UK could die from Covid BBC News
• Michelle Mone sent aggressive Covid contract email, Matt Hancock says BBC News
• As the Michelle Mone PPE scandal deepens, ministers can no longer feign ignorance | Linsey McGoey The Guardian

UK is worst in world for diabetes rise in the young study shows Type 2 cases have QUADRUPLED

UK is worst in world for diabetes rise in the young study shows Type 2 cases have QUADRUPLED Levels of type 2 diabetes among adolescents and young adults have risen faster in Britain than anywhere else in the world, a study suggests.

There has been a near four-fold increase in younger people being diagnosed with the condition since 1990, according to researchers who analysed data from more than 200 countries and regions. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Global burden of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults, 1990-2019: systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (open access) The BMJ

Confirmed: EMAS ambulance workers in Northamptonshire to stage two 24-hour strikes in December

Confirmed: EMAS ambulance workers in Northamptonshire to stage two 24-hour strikes in December Health service union leaders have announced two dates when Northamptonshire ambulance workers will walk out in a strike over pay and conditions.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff working for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) will strike for 24 hours from 6am on December 21 and December 28 after ballots overwhelmingly backed the GMB’s call for action. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Complaints about GPs and dentists in Northamptonshire soar above pre-Covid levels but fewer are being upheld

Complaints about GPs and dentists in Northamptonshire soar above pre-Covid levels but fewer are being upheld Complaints about GPs and dentists in Northamptonshire have soared above pre-Covid levels, new figures show — although fewer are being upheld.

Local surgeries faced increasing pressure since the start of the pandemic as higher demand for medical services led to backlogs for appointments. New data from NHS Digital shows 2,161 complaints were made about GPs and dentists in the former NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group area in the year to March — up 64 percent from the 1,314 made in the year to March 2019. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

'People can't afford to stay on' says Kettering carer

'People can't afford to stay on' says Kettering carer A man who became the carer of someone he met on an allotment said the profession struggled to retain staff because it was undervalued.

Peter New volunteered for the role after meeting Andrew, a 39-year-old with autism, who had been struggling with unreliable carers.

He said: "Care as an industry is massively undervalued. It doesn't work at the minute because people can't afford to stay." BBC Northampton

Research: Diphtheria: cases among asylum seekers in England, 2022

Research: Diphtheria: cases among asylum seekers in England, 2022 Diphtheria is a rare disease in the UK due to the highly successful routine vaccination programme, with 2 to 11 annual cases reported in England over the past decade.

There has been an increase in cases of toxigenic C. diphtheriae reported among asylum seekers in England during 2022, with similar increase in cases reported in Europe since June 2022. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• NHS issues antibiotic-resistant diphtheria warning after cases found in Europe The Independent

Independent report: Hewitt review: terms of reference

Independent report: Hewitt review: terms of reference The Hewitt review will consider how the oversight and governance of integrated care systems (ICSs) can best enable them to succeed, balancing greater autonomy and robust accountability with a particular focus on real time data shared digitally with the Department of Health and Social Care, and on the availability and use of data across the health and care system for transparency and improvement. Department of Health and Social Care

Government turbocharges efforts to tackle Covid backlogs

Government turbocharges efforts to tackle Covid backlogs Patients will benefit from quicker access to treatment and lifesaving diagnostic tests close to home following the launch of a new Elective Recovery Taskforce and approval of 19 new one stop shops for tests, checks and scans, the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay announced. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• More diagnostic hubs to tackle NHS waiting lists in England BBC News
• NHS will pay for more patients to undergo treatment at private hospital in bid to cut backlog The Daily Mail

Ambulance staff to strike on 21 December

Ambulance staff to strike on 21 December Ambulance staff across most of England and Wales will go on strike on 21 December in a dispute over pay.

The coordinated walkout by the three main ambulance unions - Unison, GMB and Unite - will affect non-life threatening calls only.

But it could mean people who have had trips and falls not being responded to. BBC News

See also:

• Ambulance staff will respond to life threatening emergencies despite strike, says NHS Confederation chief Channel 4 News
• Operations and appointments could still be cancelled even if strikes are called off, says NHS chief The Daily Mail
• NHS Christmas strikes: More than 10,000 ambulance workers will walk out on Dec 21 and 28 The Daily Mail
• Elderly who fall at home unlikely to get an ambulance during strikes The Daily Telegraph
• Ambulance workers and NHS staff to strike days before Christmas in pay row Evening Standard
• Ambulance workers in England and Wales to strike on 21 December The Guardian
• Government to ‘scapegoat’ nurses for NHS failings, claims Wes Streeting – video The Guardian
• What ambulance strike means for calls, response times and staffing The Independent

Number of smokers drops as vaping rises, data shows

Number of smokers drops as vaping rises, data shows The number of people smoking in the UK dropped to its lowest level on record last year but more people were using e-cigarettes, new figures have revealed.

Data from the Office for National Statistics found around 13.3% of people aged 18 or over smoked cigarettes in 2021, down from 14.0% in 2020.

But 7.7% of those aged 16 and over said they used e-cigarettes - compared to 6.4% in 2020.

The first ONS records on smoking were in 2011 and found 20.2% had smoked. BBC News

See also:

• Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2021 Office for National Statistics

Eating ultraprocessed food could increase dementia risk, study warns

Eating ultraprocessed food could increase dementia risk, study warns Regularly eating ultraprocessed food as a fifth or more of your daily calorie intake could increase your risk of contracting dementia, a new study has warned.

Preserving cognitive function may mean doing away with hot dogs, burgers and frozen pizzas, say scientists, who warn the part of your brain that processes information and makes decisions is most acutely impacted by regular consumption of such foods. The Independent

See also:

• Association Between Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Cognitive Decline (abstract) JAMA Neurology

Strep A concerns create ‘carnage’ and ‘eyewatering demand’ for the NHS

Strep A concerns create ‘carnage’ and ‘eyewatering demand’ for the NHS NHS 111, primary care and A&E services have suffered “carnage” following the recent outbreak in Strep A cases, The Independent has been told.

Senior staff working across services in the NHS have warned that news about the outbreak of Strep A has pushed more parents to use services during a time when demand is already at record levels.

See also:

• GPs warn they're in 'danger of being overwhelmed' by Strep A The Daily Mail
• When should I see a doctor if I think my child has Strep A? The Daily Mail
• Can adults get Strep A? Cases rise across UK as nine children die from infection The Independent
• NHS 111 crisis adds pressure to health system as Strep A calls spike The Independent
• Strep A: Keep your children in school, parents warned as doctors stress most infection cases are mild iNews
• Strep A: Health secretary insists there's a 'good supply' of penicillin after pharmacy director warns 'there are no drugs' Sky News

Cancer referrals at record high - but NHS can't keep up with tests

Cancer referrals at record high - but NHS can't keep up with tests A record number of people with suspected cancer are being referred by their GPs to specialists, but the NHS has not been able to keep up with increased demand.

More than two and a half million people in England were referred for suspected cancer in the year to April 2022, 300,000 more than the previous record set two years ago and more than double the amount from ten years ago. Sky News

MPs to revisit assisted dying with an inquiry next year

MPs to revisit assisted dying with an inquiry next year MPs are to open an inquiry into assisted dying in the new year, looking in particular at the experience of other countries that have changed their laws.

The health and social care committee will hear evidence from medical professionals, campaigners and the public, and make recommendations to the government on the issue. The Guardian

The NHS is failing older patients by keeping them trapped in their beds

The NHS is failing older patients by keeping them trapped in their beds | David Lee If you’re an older person in hospital right now waiting for social care to help get you home, then you’re in trouble. A recent Guardian survey found that in some parts of the country one in three beds are occupied by people who are trapped there waiting for care to be arranged.

Many older people are stuck in a grim cycle of despair because the longer they remain in hospital, the less chance they have of living independently at home. There’s an oft-quoted saying that 10 days in a hospital bed leads to 10 years’ worth of loss of muscle mass in the over-80s. The Guardian

Up to 12,000 men dying from prostate cancer each year without access to key drugs

Up to 12,000 men dying from prostate cancer each year without access to key drugs Up to 12,000 men are dying from prostate cancer in England each year because they are denied groundbreaking drugs on the NHS, charities warn.

Three charities have united with actor Stephen Fry, who survived the disease, to call for precision treatments Olaparib and Pluvicto to be made available. The Daily Mail

NHS ‘war room’ goes live in Northamptonshire as hospitals gear up for busiest winter ever

NHS ‘war room’ goes live in Northamptonshire as hospitals gear up for busiest winter ever A new state-of-the-art NHS 'traffic control centre' has gone live in Northamptonshire preparing for what experts fear could be the busiest winter ever.

The 24/7 coordination centre — dubbed a ‘winter war room’ — was among measures announced in October as part of the NHS winter response plan, alongside falls response teams, new hubs dedicated to serious respiratory infections and additional bed capacity. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering General Hospital gets go-ahead for £38m works to prepare for rebuild

Kettering General Hospital gets go-ahead for £38m works to prepare for rebuild Kettering General Hospital has received the go-ahead to start enabling works to prepare for its multi-million pound rebuild.

The hospital has received written confirmation from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England that it can begin to access £38m of capital from an initial funding allocation of £46m announced in October 2019. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Ambulance crews in Northamptonshire vote to join strike over NHS pay and staffing levels

Ambulance crews in Northamptonshire vote to join strike over NHS pay and staffing levels Ambulance crews in Northamptonshire are set to strike before Christmas after union members voted to walk out in a long-running dispute over pay and staffing levels.

GMB leaders said 10,000 of its members backed action across nine trusts in England and Wales — including East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), which covers the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton General Hospital: Dad fights for justice after 'lovely boy', aged 4, dies following 'misdiagnosed brain tumour'

Northampton General Hospital: Dad fights for justice after 'lovely boy', aged 4, dies following 'misdiagnosed brain tumour' “Devastated” parents are calling for justice after their four-year-old son died from a brain tumour which was “discovered too late by Northampton General Hospital”.

The parents of pre-schooler Akhona Moyo are calling for a full investigation into their son's death following apologies from NGH and Delapre Medical Centre. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Myth #4: “There is not enough competition and choice in the NHS”

Myth #4: “There is not enough competition and choice in the NHS” It has been argued that one of the reasons why the NHS encounters difficulties is because it doesn’t have enough competition and choice. In the latest of his mythbusting blogs, Nigel Edwards looks at how true this is. Nuffield Trust

Speaking up: challenging microagressions in the workplace

Speaking up: challenging microagressions in the workplace A few weeks ago, I read a Twitter thread where people from minoritised groups in the NHS were recounting their experiences of microaggressions (everyday, subtle, intentional and oftentimes unintentional interactions or behaviours that communicate bias toward historically marginalised groups) at work.  

The conversation was filled with the heart-breaking experiences of people working in a variety of roles across the NHS, alongside messages of support, solidarity and helpful suggestions and advice. The King's Fund

No wrong door: A vision for mental health, autism and learning disability services in 2032: parliamentary briefing

No wrong door: A vision for mental health, autism and learning disability services in 2032: parliamentary briefing The NHS Confederation and Centre for Mental Health wrote this Parliamentary briefing to identify a vision for mental health, autism and learning disability services for people of all ages in England in 2032. It describes how these services need changes to the way they are delivered to meet demand, and that mental health service providers can’t do this alone. The briefing sets out how investment is needed from government and calls for the cross-government plan for mental health to be published and resourced without delay.

Urgent & emergency care: acting on patient and public perspectives

Urgent & emergency care: acting on patient and public perspectives This report set out to understand the problem of urgent and emergency care from the perspective of patients who had engaged with that care, including how they might be supported by digital solutions. The research focused on where people go for urgent care, gathering positive and negative patient experiences, and using engaging methods to explore patients’ knowledge of existing digital services. Eastern AHSN

Action to bolster NHS workforce and retain senior doctors

Action to bolster NHS workforce and retain senior doctors All NHS staff, including senior doctors, will benefit from proposed plans to fix pension rules, supporting them to remain in work for longer and boosting the workforce as the NHS continues to take action to tackle the COVID-19 backlogs.

Building on actions set out in our plan for patients in September, the government has today launched a consultation on changes to the NHS Pension Scheme, to retain experienced NHS clinicians and remove the barriers to staff returning from retirement, such as the 20,000 former NHS staff who returned to support the NHS at the height of the pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

HIV transmission declining but progress slowed by pandemic

HIV transmission declining but progress slowed by pandemic The latest data published by the UK Health Security Agency on World AIDS Day reveals that new HIV diagnoses in England fell by nearly a third between 2019 and 2021 (from 2,986 to 2,023).

Transmission of the virus among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) continued to fall and the estimated number of GBMSM living with HIV who are unaware of their infection decreased between 2019 and 2021.

However, progress towards ending HIV transmission has slowed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and diagnoses among heterosexual people rose slightly in 2021, despite lower levels of HIV testing. This means HIV transmission and undiagnosed HIV infection in this group has not fallen.

See also:

• We have the tools to end HIV, so why is Britain falling behind its 2030 goal? | Deborah Gold The Guardian

UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive Group A strep

UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive Group A strep There were 851 cases reported in week 46, compared to an average of 186 for the preceding years.

Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious. Therefore, look out for symptoms in your child, which include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel. Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection. If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others. UK Health Security Agency

Strep A schools may be given preventive antibiotics

Strep A schools may be given preventive antibiotics Pupils at schools affected by streptococcus A could be given preventative antibiotics, the schools minister has confirmed following the deaths of some from severe infections.

Nick Gibb said the use of antibiotics "is an option" and the issue had been raised in the House of Lords on Monday. BBC News

See also:

• Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know BBC News
• Strep A: Mum warns of symptoms after child's illness BBC News
• Six children die with Strep A bacterial infection BBC News
• Parents urged to be aware of Strep A symptoms after death of six children BBC News
• Child aged 12 dies of invasive strep A in London BBC News
• Strep A: Penarth family traumatised by daughter's death BBC News
• 8 children have now died from Strep A: Pupil in Hampshire becomes latest victim of growing outbreak The Daily Mail
• Life-threatening Strep A infections four times more common than before Covid The Daily Telegraph
• Higher levels of strep A in UK could be due to Covid, says health chief The Guardian
• Strep A cases in your area as hundreds of infections reported across UK The Independent

Doctors raise safety fears at Birmingham hospitals

Doctors raise safety fears at Birmingham hospitals Whistleblowers at one of England's worst performing hospital trusts have said a climate of fear among staff is putting patients at risk.

Former and current clinicians at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust allege they were punished by management for raising safety concerns, a BBC Newsnight investigation found. BBC News

NHS: The Worst Winter? A story of stretched services told by frontline staff

NHS: The Worst Winter? A story of stretched services told by frontline staff Every week, we tell the stories of the NHS - its challenges, its triumphs, and, at times, its failings.

The stories matter because what affects the NHS affects us all: it's where our children are born, our relatives are healed, and our loved ones are supported in their toughest times.

But in recent times it has become hard to avoid the truth that our national health service is under serious strain - and at its worst extremes, often during winter, it is at breaking point.

In a news special - entitled NHS: The Worst Winter? - ITV News Anglia examines the health of the NHS, told through the stories of the staff working tirelessly on the front line.

See also:

• Thousands of beds taken up every day as NHS contends with ‘perfect storm’ of winter pressures NHS England
• NHS: Ambulance delays as paramedic holds for GP BBC News
• Fears NHS will have its worst winter ever ‘fast becoming a reality’ as health service is hit by A&E chaos, delayed ambulances, bed shortages and chronic staffing crisis The Daily Mail
• Navigating the NHS: How patients are affected by delays The Guardian
• Government plans NHS pension overhaul to ease pressures over winter The Guardian
• Emergency care issues in England contributed to 200 deaths last week, says medical chief The Guardian
• I am a paramedic trying to answer your 999 calls. Let me tell about life in the NHS twilight zone | Jake Jones The Guardian
• NHS 111 crisis adds pressure to health system as Strep A calls spike The Independent

NHS set to grind to a halt on 20 December in coordinated strike

NHS set to grind to a halt on 20 December in coordinated strike The NHS will grind to a halt on 20 December under plans being discussed for a coordinated Christmas strike in England and Wales by nurses, ambulance drivers and hospital staff.

The unprecedented day of industrial action would leave NHS bosses struggling to keep even the most basic services running to standards that patients would expect, with many reduced to “Christmas Day” levels of staffing. The Guardian

See also:

• Strikes will cause even MORE chaos in A&E The Daily Mail
• NHS could shutdown on December 20: Unions plot to co-ordinate devastating pre-Christmas strikes The Daily Mail
• A&E at risk from nurses' strikes as it fails to make list of protected areas The Daily Telegraph
• Pharmacies drafted in to break NHS strike The Daily Telegraph
• Striking UK workers playing into Putin’s hands, says Zahawi The Guardian
• Tory chairman’s ‘NHS strikes help Putin’ claim dismissed as ‘ludicrous’ The Guardian
• Timetable of trouble: the wave of strikes set to hit the Tories this winter The Guardian
• Ministers accused of ‘spoiling for a fight’ with nurses over pay The Guardian
• Where will NHS nurses strike and how will it affect me? The News Statesman
• Tory claims nurses should cancel strikes to ‘send clear message to Putin’ Nursing Notes

FIVE MILLION patients are being denied a GP appointment every month, analysis reveals

FIVE MILLION patients are being denied a GP appointment every month, analysis reveals Five million people a month are unable to book a GP appointment when they want one with the number doubling in a year, a damning study suggests.

Millions more are left waiting over a month to be seen, potentially forcing them to overcrowded A&Es or leaving them at risk of serious diseases being diagnosed too late.

The situation has got drastically worse, with the number unable to see a GP rocketing from 2.7million in October 2021 to 5.2million this October, according to analysis of NHS figures by the Labour Party. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Demonising GPs will only make capacity problems worse BMA
• Difficulties in accessing GP services are not the fault of hardworking GP teams, College tells Labour Party Royal College of General Practitioners
• Online booking for GP appointments could ease the daily scramble for slots, report says The Daily Mail
• Millions missing out on GP appointments, warns Labour Evening Standard
• Delays in seeing a GP mean millions will get diagnosis too late, says Labour The Guardian
• Five million missed out on GP appointments in one month, says Labour The Independent
• Labour claims millions finding it 'impossible' to book GP appointments ITV News

Faulty knee replacements were given to 10,000 patients

Faulty knee replacements were given to 10,000 patients More than 10,000 NHS patients have been given faulty knee replacements, it was revealed last night.

The National Joint Registry said 350 people needed a second operation within ten years due to ‘aseptic loosening’.

The Nexgen implant, made by US firm Zimmer Biomet, was withdrawn from the market in October.  The Daily Mail

A short break

Our blog will be back on Tuesday the 6th of December.

Northamptonshire nurses confirm when they will strike before Christmas

Northamptonshire nurses confirm when they will strike before Christmas Northamptonshire nurses have confirmed when they will strike before Christmas. As many as 100,000 NHS nurses will walkout in the first of a series of NHS industrial actions in the coming weeks. Northants Live

More under-fives with flu in region's hospitals – here’s how you can get your child vaccinated in Northamptonshire

More under-fives with flu in region's hospitals – here’s how you can get your child vaccinated in Northamptonshire Health experts are urging parents in Northamptonshire to get their under-fives vaccinated against flu as hospitals see numbers of sick children rise in the region.

They fear fewer vaccinations last year means more than half the very young have no protection against infection. The vaccine is given to children as a spray squirted up each nostril. It's quick and painless. The vaccine will still work even if your child gets a runny nose, sneezes or blows their nose. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Pregnant women in Northamptonshire urged to have free vaccinations ahead of ‘twindemic’ Northants Live

Concern over low rate of 2 to 3 year olds getting the flu vaccine

Concern over low rate of 2 to 3 year olds getting the flu vaccine Following the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data showing the low uptake of the flu vaccine among 2 and 3 year olds and the high rates of under 5s being hospitalised with flu, UKHSA is warning parents of the importance of ensuring their young children are vaccinated.

During week 46 (between 14 and 20 November), it is estimated that over 200 children under 5 were hospitalised suffering from serious complications caused by flu. These figures are estimated based on confirmed influenza cases in NHS acute hospitals. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Parents urged to get children flu vaccine as infections rise BBC News
• Get children vaccinated against flu, parents told: Health chiefs warn of 70% jump in admissions The Daily Mail

Nursing and midwifery register grows and becomes more ethnically diverse

Nursing and midwifery register grows and becomes more ethnically diverse The number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the NMC register has grown by nearly two percent to a record 771,445. This growth is being driven in large part by the number of internationally educated joiners, which continues to rise at a much faster rate than UK joiners.

A total of 11,496 international professionals joined the NMC register for the first time between April and September. That’s 4.9 percent more than in the same period last year (10,961) and nearly four times more than in the six months to September 2018 (3,208). Nursing and Midwifery Council

Independent report: Technical report on the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

Independent report: Technical report on the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK This is a technical report for our successors on some of the scientific, public health and clinical aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 4 nations of the UK. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS HIV testing rollout identifies hundreds of new cases

NHS HIV testing rollout identifies hundreds of new cases More than 800 people living with HIV and Hepatitis not receiving treatment have been found by the NHS in just six months following the rollout of routine testing in A&E.

In April 2022, the NHS made £20 million available over three years to implement routine HIV opt out testing within 33 hospital Emergency Departments, in areas with the highest rates of diagnosed HIV. NHS England

Forty-hour ambulance waits as NHS delays worsen

Forty-hour ambulance waits as NHS delays worsen When 85-year-old Koulla fell at home, her family immediately rang for an ambulance. She was in agonising pain - she had broken her hip.

It was around 8pm. It took another 14 hours for an ambulance to get to her, leaving her pregnant granddaughter to care for her through the night.

When they arrived the crews were able to give her pain relief and quickly transported her to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

But there the wait continued - there were around 30 ambulances queuing to handover patients to A&E staff.

It was another 26 hours before she was taken inside to A&E. BBC News

See also:

• 10,000 more NHS ambulance workers will strike: GMB joins string of medical unions The Daily Mail
• Nearly one in three ambulance patients waiting at least 30 minutes for A&E handover Evening Standard
• Ambulance waiting times in England three times longer in some rural areas The Guardian
• What ambulance strike means for calls, response times and staffing The Independent

NHS 'winter war rooms' go live across England

NHS 'winter war rooms' go live across England More than 40 NHS “traffic control centres” have gone live across England with the aim of getting patients into beds more quickly and managing demand.

The “winter war rooms” will use data to respond to pressures on the health system, with staff able to divert ambulances away from full hospitals to ones with more capacity. The Independent

Officials slow to act on Covid contact-tracing warnings, leaked evidence says

Officials slow to act on Covid contact-tracing warnings, leaked evidence says Public health leaders were slow to act on repeated warnings over Christmas 2020 that contact tracing and isolation should be triggered immediately after a positive lateral flow test result, leaked evidence to the Covid inquiry shows.

A scathing “lessons learned” document written by Dr Achim Wolf, a senior test and trace official, and submitted to the inquiry, gives his account of a trail of missed opportunities to improve the NHS test-and-trace regime in the first winter and spring of the pandemic – before vaccines were available. The Guardian

See also:

• Former vaccines chief sounds warning about UK pandemic readiness The Guardian
• The NHS test-and-trace failings that contributed to UK’s 2020 Covid Christmas The Guardian

Amputees and stroke survivors are being 'imprisoned at home' due to lack of physiotherapy

Amputees and stroke survivors are being 'imprisoned at home' due to lack of physiotherapy Patients are being left with increasing levels of disability and depression because of a lack of NHS rehabilitation services, physiotherapists have warned.

Amputees are among those left waiting months for care, with some people treated in cupboards and corridors due to a shortage of proper rooms, it is claimed.

Meanwhile, stroke survivors are left 'imprisoned at home with a bed and a commode' while they wait to be seen, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy added. The Daily Mail

Rushden specialist 51-bed short-term care centre facing closure as West Northants Council look to drop facility

Rushden specialist 51-bed short-term care centre facing closure as West Northants Council look to drop facility A 51-bed Rushden care home that provides short stay re-ablement and respite could close after a funding row between the county’s unitary councils.

After the break-up of Northamptonshire County Council (NCC), two care home facilities in the north of the county were taken on by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC). Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital boss issues apology and explanation over state of accident and emergency department

Northampton General Hospital boss issues apology and explanation over state of accident and emergency department Northampton General Hospital has apologised to patients after its accident and emergency department has been heavily criticised recently.

Heidi Smoult, NGH Chief Executive, has addressed the growing concerns surrounding the A&E department, particularly long wait times. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Digitally enabled collaborative work needs organisational capacity to succeed

Digitally enabled collaborative work needs organisational capacity to succeed We all know how the pressure of work builds and builds and builds and no matter how fast we go we never quite seem, or barely seem, to be going fast enough and getting enough done. What we think we know, however, is that there is so much to do and so little time to do it that we really must go as fast as we possibly can. The King's Fund

Research: Avian influenza (influenza A H5N1): risk to human health

Research: Avian influenza (influenza A H5N1): risk to human health A record number of cases of avian influenza virus infections or ‘bird flu’ were confirmed across England, Scotland, and Wales in wild and captive birds last winter (2021 to 2022).

As we head into winter 2022 to 2023 there have been further increases in detections recently, both in wild and captive bird flocks.

Avian influenza virus infections which cause disease in humans are very rare but can cause serious disease and deaths. UK Health Security Agency

Quarter of 17-19-year-olds have probable mental disorder - study

Quarter of 17-19-year-olds have probable mental disorder - study One in four 17- to 19-year-olds in England had a probable mental disorder in 2022 - up from one in six in 2021, according to an NHS Digital report.

Based on an online survey, rates among teenage boys and girls were similar - but twice as high in 17- to 24-year-old women compared with men.

And children affected were more likely to live in a household with money issues or using a food bank.

Charities said the figures were deeply worrying. BBC News

See also:

• Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022 - wave 3 follow up to the 2017 survey NHS Digital
• Mental Health Bulletin, 2021-22 Annual report NHS Digital
• Cost of living and Covid lockdowns leave a QUARTER of older teenagers with mental health disorders The Daily Mail
• Quarter of teens who lived through lockdowns now have mental health problems The Daily Telegraph
• Surge in mental health problems among teenagers is ‘national emergency’ Government warned The Independent
• A quarter of older teenagers in England have mental health problems, according to figures from NHS Digital Sky News

Alzheimer's drug lecanemab hailed as momentous breakthrough

Alzheimer's drug lecanemab hailed as momentous breakthrough The first drug to slow the destruction of the brain in Alzheimer's has been heralded as momentous.

The research breakthrough ends decades of failure and shows a new era of drugs to treat Alzheimer's - the most common form of dementia - is possible.

Yet the medicine, lecanemab, has only a small effect and its impact on people's daily lives is debated.

And the drug works in the early stages of the disease, so most would miss out without a revolution in spotting it. BBC News

See also:

• Lecanemab in Early Alzheimer’s Disease (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine
• Everything you need to know about 'breakthrough' Alzheimer's drug lecanemab The Daily Mail
• New Alzheimer´s drug hailed as 'beginning of the end' in search for treatment The Daily Mail
• Drug slows cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients, study reveals The Guardian
• NHS ‘nowhere near ready’ to deliver new Alzheimer’s drug, doctors say The Guardian
• Second death linked to potential antibody treatment for Alzheimer’s disease Science
• Lecanemab: New Alzheimer's drug slows decline in memory - fuelling hope doctors will one day cure dementia Sky News

Lack of ethnic diversity among egg and sperm donors

Lack of ethnic diversity among egg and sperm donors A report into the growth of egg and sperm donation in the UK has found a lack of ethnic diversity among donors.

Asian egg and black sperm donors were under-represented by 50% compared with the population, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) found.

The number of babies born from donor eggs, sperm or embryos rose from 2,500 in 1993 to 4,100 in 2019.

Annual donor registrations also rose, from under 1,000 to over 2,300 - but so did the proportion of imported sperm. BBC News

See also:

• Trends in egg, sperm and embryo donation 2020: Statistics on donation and donor treatments in the UK fertility sector Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

NHS could face biggest maternity scandal ever as Nottingham probe expected to exceed 1500 cases

NHS could face biggest maternity scandal ever as Nottingham probe expected to exceed 1500 cases The NHS could be facing its largest maternity scandal to date as the review into services in Nottingham is now expected to exceed 1,500 cases, The Independent has learned.

Up to 100,000 nurses to strike in December with threat to escalate action

Up to 100,000 nurses to strike in December with threat to escalate action Nurses will begin a series of strikes at dozens of hospitals in December – and will escalate their industrial action if ministers keep refusing to negotiate over pay.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced on Tuesday that up to 100,000 nurses will stay off work at many, but not all, of the hospitals and other NHS bodies where members have voted to stop work. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS pay dispute: December strike locations confirmed Royal College of Nursing
• Boost NHS pay to prevent pre-Christmas strikes: Ambulance workers in England to strike UNISON
• Top hospitals targeted by nurse strikes BBC News
• Up to 80,000 paramedics could strike before Christmas amid ongoing pay dispute The Daily Mail
• Will pre-Christmas nursing strikes happen at YOUR hospital?
• Ambulance staff to hold first strike for 30 years The Daily Telegraph
• Ambulance staff could coordinate strikes with other NHS workers The Guardian
• Up to 100,000 nurses to strike in December with threat to escalate action The Guardian
• Ambulance workers across England to strike before Christmas The Guardian
• Up to 100,000 nurses to go on strike before Christmas amid warning over urgent operations The Independent
• More NHS workers announce plans to strike - including paramedics and 999 call handlers ITV News
• Nurses' strikes: Full list of NHS employers affected as up to 100,000 plan to walk out Sky News

NHS England waiting times for gender dysphoria patients unlawful, court hears

NHS England waiting times for gender dysphoria patients unlawful, court hears NHS England has acted unlawfully by making thousands of patients with gender dysphoria wait “extreme” periods of time for treatment, ​the high​ court has heard.

Transgender claimants, who have suffered ​distress as a result of delays, ​want the court to declare that NHSE broke the law by failing to meet a target for 92% of patients to commence treatment within 18 weeks​.​ The Guardian

Twitter quietly drops policy preventing sharing of COVID-19 misinformation

Twitter quietly drops policy preventing sharing of COVID-19 misinformation Twitter has quietly dropped its policy preventing the sharing of false or misleading information about COVID-19.

Under the policy, tweets containing misleading information about the disease could be given a label including corrective information about the claim. Sky News

See also:

• Twitter ends Covid misinformation policy under Musk BBC News
• Musk scraps Twitter’s Covid misinformation policy The Daily Telegraph
• Concern as Twitter stops enforcing policy against Covid-19 misinformation The Guardian

Blunder at COVID lab is linked to deaths of 20 people, investigators say

Blunder at COVID lab is linked to deaths of 20 people, investigators say Twenty patients may have died due to a blunder with PCR tests at a scandal-hit Covid lab, health chiefs ruled today.

Errors at Immensa's Wolverhampton site meant around 39,000 positive PCR swabs were wrongly logged as negative.

As a result, thousands did not self-isolate as they were under the false impression they could carry on as usual — even though they were potentially infectious. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Immensa Health Clinic Limited: serious untoward incident investigation UK Health Security Agency
• Immensa lab errors may have led to 23 Covid-19 deaths BBC News
• Error at UK Covid testing lab might have led to 23 deaths, say experts The Guardian

Number of C-sections being carried out hits decade-high, NHS figures reveal

Number of C-sections being carried out hits decade-high, NHS figures reveal More than a third of babies were delivered by C-section in England last year — the highest level in a decade.

NHS figures today revealed 35 per cent of births between April 2021 and March this year were through a caesarean. This is up from a quarter 10 years ago.

Rising levels of obesity in society and women choosing to give birth later in life are behind the rise. The Daily Mail

Kettering General Hospital gets go-ahead for £38m works to prepare for rebuild

Kettering General Hospital gets go-ahead for £38m works to prepare for rebuild Kettering General Hospital has received the go-ahead to start enabling works to prepare for its multi-million pound rebuild.

The hospital has received written confirmation from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England that it can begin to access £38m of capital from an initial funding allocation of £46m announced in October 2019. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Long-awaited hospital rebuild project due to begin BBC Northampton

East Midlands Ambulance Service faces unprecedented demand - director

East Midlands Ambulance Service faces unprecedented demand - director An ambulance service has experienced "unprecedented" demand this year, a director said.

East Midlands Ambulance Service has been preparing for winter by hiring additional call handlers and bringing in new ambulances.

Divisional director for Northamptonshire, Mick Jones, said he had "never seen such demand" in his 35 years at the service.

He said the past year had been "exceptionally busy". BBC Northampton

Waiting on the waiting list, but what for?

Waiting on the waiting list, but what for? The current waiting list in England makes for grim reading – in September 2022 it was more than 7 million , up by 1.2 million since September last year, and 2.6 million over the past three years (i.e., before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic). But what are these people waiting for? The King's Fund

Will it ever be possible to look out, not up? Learning from past reviews of local and national NHS relationships

Will it ever be possible to look out, not up? Learning from past reviews of local and national NHS relationships The upcoming review into integrated care systems will not in any way be the first time that the relationship between national organisations and local NHS trusts and commissioners has been assessed. Helen Buckingham considers the lessons that need to be learned from the past, and suggests some important questions that the review may want to think about. Nuffield Trust

Increase in number of people in contact with NHS mental health services in England

Increase in number of people in contact with NHS mental health services in England The number of people in contact with1 NHS mental health services in England (including those referred and those seen) has increased by 16.2% in the last year. NHS Digital

Research: Diphtheria: cases among asylum seekers in England, 2022

Research: Diphtheria: cases among asylum seekers in England, 2022 Diphtheria is a rare disease in the UK due to the highly successful routine vaccination programme, with 2 to 11 annual cases reported in England over the past decade.

There has been an increase in cases of toxigenic C. diphtheriae reported among asylum seekers in England during 2022, with similar increase in cases reported in Europe since June 2022. UK Health Security Agency

New measures to improve access to dental care

New measures to improve access to dental care A new package of measures to improve patient access to dental care has been introduced by the government.

From today, NHS dentists will receive fairer payments for delivering complex dental care to incentivise practices to take on high needs patients who require treatment the most. Department of Health and Social Care

Big UK trial to find best drugs to fight flu

Big UK trial to find best drugs to fight flu With flu cases rising, UK Covid scientists are turning their attention to finding the best life-saving drugs to fight the winter virus.

A trial will run across 150 hospitals this year and next, recruiting thousands of patients.

Flu vaccines help prevent infection but each year some people become very sick.

And antiviral tablets - given within a couple of days of symptoms developing - are designed to reduce the severity of these bad infections. BBC News

Monkeypox given new name by global health experts

Monkeypox given new name by global health experts Monkeypox will now be known as mpox, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced, after complaints over racist and stigmatising language linked to the virus's name.

The old term will be used alongside the new one for a year, before being phased out.

Mpox was decided on after lengthy discussions between experts, countries and the general public. BBC News

See also:

• WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease World Health Organization
• Monkeypox renamed ‘because of racism’ The Independent
• Monkeypox given new name by World Health Organisation - disease will now be called 'mpox' Sky News

Human rights of mental health patients violated amid crisis in care, regulator warns

Human rights of mental health patients violated amid crisis in care, regulator warns The human rights of vulnerable mental health patients are being violated because of the crisis in care, a regulator has warned.

Rob Behrens, the health service ombudsman for England, said urgent action was needed over repeated “tragedies” in NHS mental health services.

His warning comes as the latest NHS figures show there were 9,839 incidents of abuse against mental health patients from April 2021 to March this year – a higher figure than in any other sector. The Independent

National data guardian says suppliers must share NHS core values

National data guardian says suppliers must share NHS core values NHS national data guardian Dr Nicola Byrne has advised national policymakers that they should ensure key suppliers must share NHS core values.

The guidance, provided as part of a blog on advice she has been offering on the proposed new federated data platform, appears to provide a warning about the expected award of the contract to Palantir, due to the risk of undermining public confidence. Digital Health

See also:

• In pursuit of balance: unlocking the power of data whilst preserving public trust National Data Guardian

NHS creates £1.3bn pot for Covid compensation claims

NHS creates £1.3bn pot for Covid compensation claims The NHS has set aside £1.3 billion to cope with compensation claims arising from the pandemic this year with claims for treatment delays, cancellations and misdiagnosis expected.

An annual report from NHS Resolution, which deals with patient disputes, shows that the health service anticipates it will need to pay out more than a billion pounds this financial year to settle claims arising from poor service during Covid. The Daily Telegraph

Next big Covid variant WILL be more deadly, according to new study of immuno-compromised patient

Next big Covid variant WILL be more deadly, according to new study of immuno-compromised patient The world's next major Covid variant is poised to be more severe than the mild strains that are currently world-dominant, according to a new study. 

The ultra-infectious Omicron strain emerged almost exactly a year ago and its mutated spinoffs have risen to the top in virtually every country in the world. The Daily Mail

See also:

• SARS-CoV-2 evolves increased infection elicited cell death and fusion in an immunosuppressed individual (open access preprint) medRxiv
• Covid: Blood thinner ineffective for patients, trial finds BBC News
• Britain has world's SECOND biggest Covid outbreak currently... so where else is in the worst 20? The Daily Mail
• Could China's Covid chaos send world straight back to square one? The Daily Mail
• Zero-Covid policy: why is China still having severe lockdowns? The Guardian

GPs fail to identify osteoporosis sparking fears of a hidden epidemic of brittle bones

GPs fail to identify osteoporosis sparking fears of a hidden epidemic of brittle bones Tens of thousands of patients are suffering life-changing fractures every year because GPs 'routinely' fail to identify those with weak bones, a parliamentary inquiry has found. 

Family doctors are well-placed to diagnose and treat osteoporosis but too many people only learn they have it after suffering a fall, the cross-party group of MPs and Peers warn. The Daily Mail

Patients WON'T have surgery cancelled at last minute, NHS bosses say

Patients WON'T have surgery cancelled at last minute, NHS bosses say Patients won't have procedures cancelled at the last minute due to the nurses' strikes, but care will have to be postponed, the head of the NHS has warned.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, told MPs she could not confirm how far in advance patients would be notified about any changes to upcoming treatment.

Addressing the public accounts committee, she said efforts would be made to inform them 'sooner rather than later'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Urgent surgery ‘may be postponed’ by nurses’ strikes, say NHS bosses The Guardian

Revealed: The GP surgeries in Northampton with the best, and worst, ratings for appointment waiting times

Revealed: The GP surgeries in Northampton with the best, and worst, ratings for appointment waiting times Patients at some doctor’s surgeries in Northampton have to wait far longer for appointments than at others, NHS figures show. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Has Brexit affected the UK’s medical workforce?

Has Brexit affected the UK’s medical workforce? How have the numbers of doctors in the NHS who come from the EU and the European Free Trade Association changed since the Brexit referendum in 2016? And do certain specialties face particular problems? Martha McCarey and Mark Dayan take a closer look at what’s happened since the vote. Nuffield Trust

See also: 

• Brexit has worsened shortage of NHS doctors, analysis shows The Guardian
• NHS forced to spend £180m a year on ‘pointless’ visa charges The Independent

What does the autumn statement mean for public services?

What does the autumn statement mean for public services? This report sets out the impact of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s plans on four service areas: the NHS, schools, the criminal justice system and local government. It warns that while frontloading funding in protected areas shields them from the damaging ‘austerity 2.0’ feared, this is still unlikely to enable key services like the NHS to return performance to pre-pandemic levels this parliament. It also suggests that unless historic pay cuts are addressed, it may not be enough to improve recruitment and retention or avert widespread strikes. Institute for Government

Mind the gaps: understanding and improving out-of-hours care for people with advanced illness and their informal carers

Mind the gaps: understanding and improving out-of-hours care for people with advanced illness and their informal carers The hours outside of Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, including weekends and bank holidays, make up 75% of the time in every week. So it's no surprise that many people with a terminal illness need care urgently in this out-of-hours period.

But out-of-hours services aren't up to scratch. This report shows they're disjointed, confusing and unreliable. Lots of people can't get the care they need at home in a crisis, especially if they live in a deprived area.

This can leave people with no option but to go to A&E departments. And it means they aren't getting the good end of life experience that we all hope for. Marie Curie

See also: 

• Palliative care: 'My dad should not have been expected to die in office hours' BBC News

Government to use Vaccine Taskforce model to tackle health challenges

Government to use Vaccine Taskforce model to tackle health challenges NHS patients are set to benefit from cutting-edge new treatments and technologies as the government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackling some of the biggest public health challenges facing the UK.

The government has today announced over £113 million to fund research into four healthcare missions – cancer, obesity, mental health and addiction – to unlock the next generation of medicines and diagnostics to save lives, transform patient care and ensure UK patients are the first to benefit from medical breakthroughs. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• New obesity treatments and technology to save the NHS billions Department of Health and Social Care
• Sunak wants vaccine taskforce-style strategy to tackle NHS missions The Independent
• Rishi Sunak wants vaccine taskforce-style strategy to tackle NHS 'missions' like cancer and obesity Sky News

Thousands more cancer cases linked to deprivation

Thousands more cancer cases linked to deprivation Thousands of extra cancer cases are linked to deprivation in Scotland, according to Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

The charity has found that around 4,900 extra cancer cases a year are linked, which equates to 13 cases a day.

Those living in the poorest areas are also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage when cancer can be harder to treat successfully.  BBC News

See also:

• Poorer women in UK have sixth-highest cancer death rates in Europe, WHO finds The Guardian

Eight days waiting in A&E: Inside the crisis in NHS mental health care

Eight days waiting in A&E: Inside the crisis in NHS mental health care People suffering from mental illness are increasingly struggling to access help at every level of the NHS – from record numbers facing “unacceptable” delays in referrals to patients waiting up to eight days in A&E for a hospital bed.

Figures seen by The Independent show almost four times as many people are waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments as two years ago.

See also:

• Health bosses are fiddling while the NHS burns The Daily Telegraph
• Stress, exhaustion and 1,000 patients a day: the life of an English GP The Guardian
• GPs tell patients to ‘get an Uber’ as NHS ambulance delays hit record level The Guardian

‘This is as much about patient safety as pay’: NHS faces wave of strikes as more unions vote

‘This is as much about patient safety as pay’: NHS faces wave of strikes as more unions vote The NHS faces the threat of coordinated industrial action lasting several months, with results to be announced within days of strike ballots of ambulance crews and about 300,000 health workers.

Junior doctors, paramedics, midwives, porters, cleaners, pharmacy technicians and physiotherapists are being balloted across the NHS. The government now faces the threat of waves of strikes across the public sector, from nurses and firefighters to civil servants and teachers. The Guardian

See also: 

• December strike by NHS nurses is biggest in their history BBC News
• 'Militant' nursing union orchestrating pre-Christmas strikes threatens MORE walk-outs The Daily Mail
• The ARMY could drive ambulances and fill hospital roles under emergency plans for NHS this winter The Daily Mail
• Nurses are struggling – our strike has been a long time coming The Guardian
• Public sector pay demands ‘unaffordable’, says transport secretary
• Army could step in to help NHS during winter of strikes The Independent
• Ministers harden their stance ahead of nurse strike as they say there is no more money for a better pay deal iNews
• Army would step in to help NHS during winter of strikes under contingency plans ITV News

No 10 hiring of healthcare lobbyist prompts privatisation concern

No 10 hiring of healthcare lobbyist prompts privatisation concern Rishi Sunak has appointed a private healthcare lobbyist with links to a series of controversial clients to advise him in Downing Street, raising concerns over further privatisation within the NHS.

Bill Morgan, a founding partner of the PR and lobbying firm Evoke Incisive Health, joined No 10 as a health policy adviser earlier this month where he is believed to be helping drive through NHS efficiencies. The Guardian

Rotherham: inquiry after family says boy, 5, died after hospital turned him away

Rotherham: inquiry after family says boy, 5, died after hospital turned him away A hospital trust in South Yorkshire has opened an investigation after the family of a five-year-old said he died after being turned away by doctors because there were no available beds.

Yusuf Ahmed died on Monday after a tonsil infection had spread to his lungs and caused multiple organ failure. The boy had been taken to Rotherham general hospital by his uncle Zaheer Ahmed on 14 November with complaints of a sore throat. He had been prescribed antibiotics the previous day by his GP, but his condition had not improved. The Guardian

See also:

• Family claim Rotherham Hospital delays led to death of boy BBC News
• 'They said they had no space': Family says boy, 5, died after he was sent home from hospital Sky News

Older people left with incontinence after hospital visits as NHS staff 'fit catheters unnecessarily'

Older people left with incontinence after hospital visits as NHS staff 'fit catheters unnecessarily' Older people who spend time in hospital are being discharged suffering from long-lasting incontinence because NHS staff are too busy to take them to the toilet while they're on the ward, experts warn.

One reason, say specialists, is inappropriate use of urinary catheters – a tube inserted into the urinary tract which empties the contents of the bladder into a drainage bag. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Ending healthcare's over-reliance on containment products and catheters (open access) British Journal of Nursing
• Inappropriate urinary catheterisation: a review of the prevalence, risk factors and measures to reduce incidence (open access) British Journal of Nursing

Fast-track drug brings prostate cancer hope as it could extend life expectancy for patients

Fast-track drug brings prostate cancer hope as it could extend life expectancy for patients Around 9,000 men with one of the most advanced forms of prostate cancer will be eligible for a new life-extending drug – thanks to a fast-tracked deal.

The NHS in England will become the first healthcare provider in Europe to roll out Darolutamide to patients whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Trials of the drug have shown the chances of living longer are increased by a third in men who were previously left untreated. The Daily Mail