Nursing and midwifery workforce numbers continue to grow as concern around the long term impact of Covid-19 remains

Nursing and midwifery workforce numbers continue to grow as concern around the long term impact of Covid-19 remains Latest mid-year figures out today (Thursday 12 November) from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reveal the number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on its permanent register has grown by 7,909 to 724,516 between 1 April and 30 September - an increase of 1.1 percent.

See also:

• The pandemic is creating problems for continued future growth of nursing numbers Nuffield Trust

Saving a lost decade: how a new deal for public health can help build a healthier nation

Saving a lost decade: how a new deal for public health can help build a healthier nation This report reveals the wider consequences of inaction on health improvement and prevention. It argues that the decision to remove health protection functions from Public Health England to a new National Institute for Health Protection presents an opportunity to reimagine and design a better public health system. Policy Exchange

Early evidence of the development of primary care networks in England: a rapid evaluation study

Early evidence of the development of primary care networks in England: a rapid evaluation study Primary care networks are groups of general practices brought together in July 2019 to develop new services in response to NHS England/Improvement policy using a shared budget. This report examined the early implementation of primary care networks, especially what has helped or hindered progress, how they operate in relation to pre-existing collaborations, and issues for rural networks. National Institute for Health Research

Human rights of Black people not equally protected, say Committee

Human rights of Black people not equally protected, say Committee The Joint Committee on Human Rights have published their Report “Black People, Racism and Human Rights”, which concludes that the Government must urgently take action to protect the human rights of Black people, including within healthcare, criminal justice, nationality and immigration and democracy.

The Committee have now concluded that the Government, NHS and police must now take action to end the stark inequalities in the protection of human rights of the Black community.

See also:

• 60% of black people feel they're treated unequally by NHS, says report Metro

Oxford University and PHE confirm high-sensitivity of lateral flow tests

Oxford University and PHE confirm high-sensitivity of lateral flow tests Extensive clinical evaluation shows lateral flow tests are accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community, including for asymptomatic people. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity  Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: deaths of people with learning disabilities Public Health England

Hospitals install pop-up Covid-19 isolation bays

Hospitals install pop-up Covid-19 isolation bays Six NHS Trusts across England are fitting pop-up isolation rooms in their hospitals.

Royal Derby Hospital, part of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, has just installed 25 of the pop-up bays in their medical assessment unit, to separate patients until they receive the results of a Covid-19 test.

The temporary rooms which are stored in a compact wheeled cart, can be erected in around five minutes to provide an individual room to isolate patients. BBC News

See also:

• Black and Asian people at greater risk from Covid, study finds BBC News
• Students in Leicester take part in rapid coronavirus test  BBC News
• Covid vaccine: 'No decision' on under 50s vaccine plan BBC News
• Russian Covid vaccine shows encouraging results BBC News
• 'These are repurposed bin bags': Fury of NHS workers given flimsy plastic sheets instead of proper PPE to protect against second wave of Covid The Daily Mail
• Two thirds of COVID-19 survivors have symptoms 7 weeks later The Daily Mail
• No10 'nudge' unit suggests paper wristbands for those Covid-negative The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Death toll tops 50,000 with 595 new victims The Daily Mail
• NHS told to prepare for Covid mass vaccinations from December 1 The Daily Telegraph
• How will a coronavirus vaccine be rolled out to the UK population? The Guardian
• NHS to vaccinate up to 5,000 people a day in Covid immunisation drive The Guardian
• Antibody tests bought by UK government 'less accurate than maker claims' The Guardian
• Oxford coronavirus vaccine expected to be easier to roll out than Pfizer jab The Independent
• Covid patients ‘head to toe’ on trolleys in A&E spark warnings over ‘lethal’ situation The Independent
• Pfizer vaccine: Over 80% of doses already sold to world’s richest countries The Independent
• NHS worker quits to become figurehead for Covid conspiracy movement Metro

Instagram: New tools to ban self-harm and suicide posts

Instagram: New tools to ban self-harm and suicide posts Instagram has launched new technology to recognise self-harm and suicide content on its app in the UK and Europe.

The new tools can identify both images and words that break its rules on harmful posts.

It will make posts less visible in the app and, in extreme cases, remove it automatically. BBC News

Large outbreaks of diseases such as flu likely when social distancing ends, study shows

Large outbreaks of diseases such as flu likely when social distancing ends, study shows Large outbreaks of diseases such as flu could emerge once Covid-19 measures like social distancing end, a study from Princeton University has suggested.

Researchers said that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as mask wearing and social distancing, which were introduced to reduce the spread of Covid-19, had also lowered the incidence of illnesses including seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The Independent

See also:

• The impact of COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions on the future dynamics of endemic infections (open access) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Cheshire hospital baby deaths: Nurse to appear in court charged with eight counts of murder

Cheshire hospital baby deaths: Nurse to appear in court charged with eight counts of murder A nurse is due in court charged with eight counts of murder following an investigation into baby deaths at a hospital in Cheshire.

Lucy Letby, 30, was arrested for a third time on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the Countess of Chester Hospital, which began in 2017.

Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, also faces 10 charges of attempted murder relating to the period of June 2015 to June 2016. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Chester hospital baby deaths: Nurse Lucy Letby due in court BBC News
• Lucy Letby: Nurse due in court charged with murdering eight babies at Chester hospital The Independent

Northamptonshire health chief's fresh lockdown plea after record rise in Covid-19 cases

Northamptonshire health chief's fresh lockdown plea after record rise in Covid-19 cases Health chiefs issued a fresh plea to make the lockdown count after Northamptonshire saw another record number of positive Covid-19 tests.

Labs confirmed more than 100 positive swabs in a single day in Northampton for the first time since the pandemic began. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Joe Rooney funeral: £10k fine for 'blatant disregard' of rules BBC Northampton
• Covid-19 in the East of England: Panel answer your questions live BBC News
• NHS confirms three more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Three areas of Northampton where Covid-19 cases are among highest in the country Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Fine for shopper not wearing face covering at Rushden supermarket Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering funeral organisers to be fined £10,000 for breaching lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph

Climate change and sustainability: the health service and net zero

Climate change and sustainability: the health service and net zero This report states that with the NHS contributing up to five per cent of the UK’s total carbon emissions, increased sustainability and changes to working practices are vital if the health of future generations is to be protected. The health service has a responsibility to its patients to reduce its own carbon footprint and to strive for net zero emissions, if it is to take a leading role in combatting the harmful effects of climate change. British Medical Association

Covid-19 insights: impact on staff and priorities for recovery

Covid-19 insights: impact on staff and priorities for recovery This report reveals the extensive mental and physical health impact on the NHS, health and care professionals across the UK, as a result of working and living through Covid-19, and identifies organisational priorities for recovery, both as the country enters the next phase of the pandemic and for the longer-term. Skills for Health 

Guidance on workload prioritisation during Covid-19 pandemic level rising

Guidance on workload prioritisation during Covid-19 pandemic level rising This guidance reflects the increasing prevalence of Covid-19 around the country, to support GPs and their teams in making local decisions based on local circumstances. Royal College of General Practitioners 

COVID-19 report reveals massive hit to the North’s health and economy

COVID-19 report reveals massive hit to the North’s health and economy The North of England’s economy has been hit harder than the rest of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic with inequalities between the North and the rest of the country exacerbated, according to a report launched today. 

The Northern Health Science Alliance, NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (North East and North Cumbria, Greater Manchester, North West Coast, Yorkshire and Humber), and the NIHR School of Public Health Research report COVID-19 and the Northern Powerhouse: Tackling Health Inequalities for UK Health and Productivity looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the health and economic inequalities between the Northern Powerhouse and the rest of England.

It has found the pandemic hit the North harder and more deeply and that mitigating measures must be put in place to stop inequalities rising further and faster.

See also:

• Coronavirus: Northern England 'worst hit' by pandemic BBC News

Research and analysis: Antibiotic use and resistance: what the public know

Research and analysis: Antibiotic use and resistance: what the public know This report presents the findings of the most recent (2017) national household survey of current public knowledge about anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and of people’s antibiotic use. Public Health England

Guidance: Health matters: cold weather and COVID-19

Guidance: Health matters: cold weather and COVID-19 This is the first winter with coronavirus (COVID-19) circulating, and it is critical that plans are in place to address the risks that may arise from the concurrence of cold weather and COVID-19. Health Matters focusses on the impact of cold weather on health, how COVID-19 amplifies cold-related risks, and actions that can be taken to prevent harm, particularly to those most vulnerable. Public Health England

See also:

• Parents urged to keep childhood vaccination appointments during national COVID-19 restrictions Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: impact on vaccination programmes Public Health England

Matt Hancock on Covid 19 vaccine trials and roll out

Matt Hancock on Covid 19 vaccine trials and roll out The UK does not have a Covid vaccine yet, but is “one step closer” the health secretary has said.

Matt Hancock was speaking after it was announced on Monday that the world's first effective coronavirus vaccine had shown positive results in preliminary tests on 43,500 people.

He said if it was approved, the NHS had been told to be ready from 1 December to “inject hope into millions of arms this winter”. BBC News

See also:

• Second wave: NHS staff 'feeling the strain' BBC News
• 'Really exciting time' as Covid vaccine hopes soar BBC News
• Covid vaccine: How will we keep it cold enough? BBC News
• Immunising the world against Covid-19 BBC News
• Covid-19: Husband of test and trace boss to self-isolate BBC News
• Government considers changing anti-Covid tier system AGAIN after December 2 The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus England: Liverpool mass-testing scheme to be rolled out The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Excess deaths in private homes soar to 30,000 in England and Wales The Daily Mail
• Mass testing is to be rolled out at universities to get students home safely for Christmas The Daily Mail
• UK Covid-19 cases and deaths: how the UK is coping with a second wave The Daily Telegraph
• GPs in England will scale back care to deliver Covid vaccines The Guardian
• NHS test and trace: Dido Harding says scheme failed to predict demand The Guardian
• NHS and military preparing for mass vaccination programme The Independent
• Covid vaccine: How do trials actually work? The Independent
• UK coronavirus death toll rises by 532 in 24 hours The Independent

Mobile robo-surgeons could widen access to keyhole surgery

Mobile robo-surgeons could widen access to keyhole surgery Keyhole surgery can allow complicated procedures to be carried out with just a few access cuts, helping to reduce patient recovery times and potential risk of infection.

But the remote controlled robots that can perform this type of surgery are often very large, expensive and not widely available.

Now a new robo-surgeon with a modular design could be about to change that. BBC News

UK to ban all online junk food advertising to tackle obesity

UK to ban all online junk food advertising to tackle obesity ‘World-leading’ proposal delights health campaigners and dismays advertising industry

Downing Street has unveiled plans to implement a total ban on online junk food advertising – the toughest digital marketing restrictions in the world – in an attempt to tackle the growing obesity crisis.

While health campaigners have welcomed the proposed ban, which is now subject to a six-week consultation, it has stunned the advertising industry, which has called it indiscriminate and draconian. The Guardian

See also:

• New public consultation on total ban of online advertising for unhealthy foods Department of Health and Social Care

Nurse re-arrested in connection with murder of eight babies and attempted murder of six others

Nurse re-arrested in connection with murder of eight babies and attempted murder of six others A healthcare professional has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder as part of an investigation into deaths of babies at a neonatal unit.

The woman, arrested on Tuesday, is understood to be nurse Lucy Letby, who was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019. The Daily Telegraph