Covid and beyond: confronting the unequal access to type 1 diabetes healthcare

Covid and beyond: confronting the unequal access to type 1 diabetes healthcare JDRF surveyed more than 1000 people living with type 1 diabetes, or caring for a child living with it, to reveal their experiences through the upheavals of the Covid pandemic. The findings of the report reveal the impact of the withdrawal and repurposing of many NHS diabetes services on people with type 1. The report sets out a series of recommendations, anchored in the needs of people living with type 1. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 

Enact ‘Plan B plus’ to avoid ‘stumbling into winter crisis’

Enact ‘Plan B plus’ to avoid ‘stumbling into winter crisis’ Health leaders are calling on the government to introduce measures, such as mandatory face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces, without delay to keep people well and avoid the NHS from becoming overwhelmed this winter.

The NHS is seeing worrying increases in coronavirus cases in its hospitals and the community at a time when it is preparing for a busy winter period, its staff are close to burnout, and it is being expected to recover many of its services that were disrupted by the pandemic.

The NHS Confederation is warning that the extent of this recovery could be at risk without preemptive action over winter from the government and the public.

See also:

• COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid: Bring back rules amid rising cases, urge NHS chiefs BBC News
• Plan B of mask wearing and ban on indoor gatherings must be enforced immediately, warns NHS leader The Daily Telegraph
• Implement ‘plan B’ winter measures now or risk NHS crisis, Johnson warned The Guardian
• What are the ‘Plan B’ measures NHS chiefs want to implement? The Independent
• COVID-19: Minister rules out another lockdown as PM is urged to enforce 'Plan B' to avert winter crisis Sky News

Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK

Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK Officials are keeping a close watch on a new descendant of the Delta variant of Covid that is causing a growing number of infections.

Delta is the UK's dominant variant, but latest official data suggests 6% of Covid cases that have been genetically sequenced are of a new type.

AY.4.2, which some are calling "Delta Plus", contains mutations that might give the virus survival advantages. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: No 10 'keeping a close eye' on rising Covid cases BBC News
• UK's daily Covid deaths hit SEVEN-MONTH high of 223 while cases jump 13% in a week to 43,738 The Daily Mail
• More infectious strain of Delta makes up 10% of cases in UK - but 7 cases detected in US so far The Daily Mail
• Nearly 5MILLION vulnerable over-50s have yet to have their Covid booster vaccine The Daily Mail
• Prof Lockdown' Neil Ferguson calls for return of face masks The Daily Mail
• Pfizer's Covid vaccine negotiations with developing countries called 'bullying' in new report The Daily Mail
• Without Covid-19 jab, ‘reinfection may occur every 16 months’ The Guardian
• Why is England driving the rise in UK Covid cases? The Guardian
• Vaccine centres in England to take children’s bookings within weeks, says No 10 The Guardian
• Oxford scientists working on new Covid vaccine to target Delta variant The Independent

Care staff shortage harms services for thousands, say managers

Care staff shortage harms services for thousands, say managers Managers of community care services supporting more than 15,000 people in England, say acute staff shortages are forcing them to turn down new clients.

The National Care Forum of mainly not-for-profit organisations, says care providers are having to make tough decisions about who they can help.

Last week health bosses said the care shortage meant more patients judged fit to go home were stuck in hospital. BBC News

See also: 

• The stark reality of the care workforce National Care Forum
• NCF / Outstanding Managers Network survey National Care Forum

NHS ‘in need of 5,000 more medical students’ as numbers from EU drop

NHS ‘in need of 5,000 more medical students’ as numbers from EU drop The NHS is in need of 5,000 more medical students to maintain a sustainable supply of doctors and cope with a drop in numbers coming from Europe, the Medical Schools Council said in a new report. The Independent

See also:

• The expansion of medical school numbers in the UK: Position paper Medical Schools Council
• Medical schools call for increase in doctors to support NHS recovery and sustainability Medical Schools Council
• MSC and AoMRC statement on the expansion of medical student numbers Medical Schools Council and Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

NHS services hit with delays of up to six hours as paramedic warns of lengthy waits for ambulances this winter

NHS services hit with delays of up to six hours as paramedic warns of lengthy waits for ambulances this winter The UK is facing a "bleak" winter as health services have started seeing delays of up to six hours in admitting patients, a paramedic has warned.

Richard Webber, a paramedic and spokesman for the College of Paramedics, said the delays have resulted in increasing numbers of ambulances waiting outside hospitals, along with a backlog of 999 calls. Sky News

See also: 

• 'Trolley waits' in A&E hit record high as NHS crisis deepens The Daily Telegraph

AI projects to tackle racial inequality in UK healthcare, says Javid

AI projects to tackle racial inequality in UK healthcare, says Javid Artificial intelligence is to be used to tackle racial inequalities in the NHS under government plans to “level up” healthcare.

It is hoped that millions of black, Asian and minority ethnic Britons will benefit from revolutionary computer techniques designed to transform care and speed up diagnoses of potentially deadly conditions. Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has given the green light to a series of hi-tech initiatives aimed at tackling health disparities in the UK. It comes amid mounting concern over the issue among senior ministers. The Guardian 

Doctors call on NHS to offer women more help after first miscarriage

Doctors call on NHS to offer women more help after first miscarriage Women who lose a baby during pregnancy should be offered help after having one miscarriage rather than the three currently needed to trigger NHS support, doctors say.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) wants the NHS to overhaul its rules so that any woman who suffers a miscarriage receives some form of care, mainly information and guidance, to help them cope with their loss and plan future pregnancies. The Guardian

See also: 

• New draft guideline outlines best practice for treating recurrent miscarriage Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

GPs 'out-and-out REJECT' No10's £250million plan to get patients more face-to-face appointments

GPs 'out-and-out REJECT' No10's £250million plan to get patients more face-to-face appointments GPs have 'out-and-out rejected' No10's £250million proposals to give patients more face-to-face appointments.

Nine in ten family doctors quizzed by a medical union claimed Sajid Javid's plan to increase in-person visits was an 'unacceptable response to the current crisis'.  

Last week the Health Secretary unveiled a nine-point revolution to ensure all patients could see their doctor in person.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• England’s GPs overwhelmingly reject Health Secretary’s plan to ‘support’ general practice BMA
• GPs overwhelmingly reject access plans as BMA holds emergency meeting GPonline
• Majority of GPs 'would consider leaving NHS' amid inadequate Government support Pulse
• LMC recommends GPs 'do not participate' in NHSE plan Pulse

Health chiefs monitoring sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases in Wellingborough villages

Health chiefs monitoring sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases in Wellingborough villages Health chiefs are monitoring a sharp rise in Covid cases among a cluster of villages near Wellingborough.

Just under three percent of the 11,000 population in and around Irchester, Wollaston and Bozeat tested positive in the space of just a fortnight. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Call goes out for more volunteers to support NHS teams at Northamptonshire Covid-19 Vaccination Centre Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The easiest...and hardest GP surgeries to book an appointment with in Northampton

The easiest...and hardest GP surgeries to book an appointment with in Northampton Here we reveal the GP practices in Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group area which were voted the easiest/hardest to make an appointment at. Sixty-nine surgeries were ranked in the county

Surgeries are ranked by the proportion of patients who said their experience of booking an appointment was ‘very good/poor’. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What has been the impact of Covid-19 across the UK countries?

What has been the impact of Covid-19 across the UK countries? While every health service across the United Kingdom has faced unprecedented pressures over the past year and a half, UK-wide reporting has masked any differences in peaks and troughs across the four countries. In this explainer, Sarah Scobie takes a closer look at the pandemic across the UK so far – describing where some of those differences have been between each country as well as the shared challenges that each health service will face as winter approaches. Nuffield Trust

What does the new Health and Care Bill mean for NHS financial management?

What does the new Health and Care Bill mean for NHS financial management? James W Frick once said: ‘Don’t tell me what your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.’

So, what does the Health and Care Bill, wending its way through parliament and the most substantial piece of health legislation since the 2012 Lansley reforms, suggest about future financial management in the new NHS? The King's Fund

Drug expenditure dynamics 1995–2020: understanding medicine spending in context

Drug expenditure dynamics 1995–2020: understanding medicine spending in context While the level of drug expenditure is closely watched and often commented upon, the composition of that expenditure and its dynamics are not as well understood. Typically, official statistics of drug spending only include drugs dispensed in pharmacies and do not include drugs used in hospitals, an issue which raises questions about their representativeness of total drug spending. This report includes estimates of total drug spending, including hospitals and net of discounts and rebates. These estimates have been based on official statistics from government agencies in the countries where available, in some cases not previously published internationally. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science 

Beyond bricks and mortar: capital funding for the NHS

Beyond bricks and mortar: capital funding for the NHS Ahead of the Spending Review on 27 October, the NHS Confederation surveyed healthcare leaders across the NHS in England to understand their capital needs. The report found that 96 per cent of healthcare leaders fear they will not receive enough capital money at the forthcoming Spending Review. Insufficient capital funding may hamper the government’s plans for the NHS, impacting safety standards, digital innovations and worsening inequalities. NHS Confederation 

Equality, diversity and inclusion training: a good practice guide

Equality, diversity and inclusion training: a good practice guide This guidance includes information on: who should receive the training; training objectives; training content outline; a definition of health inequalities; and legislative requirements and policies. It also covers equality standards in the NHS; understanding bias and strategies for embedding equality, diversity and inclusion. The guide is aimed at equality, diversity and inclusion leads, HR and learning and development professionals, and trade union representatives. NHS Employers 

Evolving regulation and oversight in a systems world

Evolving regulation and oversight in a systems world This briefing outlines the key implications for trusts of changes to the NHS regulatory framework, in the context of accelerating system working and legislative change. NHS Providers

See also: 

• Five key principles for regulation and oversight in a systems world NHS Providers

Covid: Why are UK cases so high?

Covid: Why are UK cases so high? Covid cases in the UK are higher now than they were this time last year when parts of England were under local lockdowns. Thanks to the vaccine, though, there are fewer cases of serious illness with people needing to be treated in hospital.

But soaring infections - which are outstripping some European nations - are still proving a cause for concern. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Is the pace of the vaccine booster rollout too slow? BBC News
• Positive trial results for Valneva Covid vaccine BBC News
• MS drug does NOT improve condition of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is linked to WORSE outcomes The Daily Mail
• NHS pressure sees No10 hint at return of Covid restrictions The Daily Mail
• Double-jabbed people are as likely not to catch Covid as those who have recovered from infection The Daily Mail
• Covid booster jabs need to be sped up or medical units could become swamped this winter The Daily Mail
• People must be 'cautious' with day-to-day interactions as Covid cases climb and immunity wanes The Daily Telegraph
• No 10 appears to confirm Nimco Ali’s Christmas lockdown stay with Johnsons The Guardian
• UK government ordered to reveal firms awarded ‘VIP’ Covid contracts The Guardian
• Five million have yet to take up Covid booster jab The Independent

NHS is wasting up to £568m a year on pointless pills as thousands of patients are given medication they don't need, study shows

NHS is wasting up to £568m a year on pointless pillsas thousands of patients are given medication they don't need, study shows The NHS is wasting up to £568million a year on pills that patients do not need and can leave them with dangerous addictions, a study shows.

Doctors in England are dishing out habit-forming drugs such as opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills to hundreds of thousands of people who should not be on them. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• The costs incurred by the NHS in England due to the unnecessary prescribing of dependency-forming medications (abstract) Addictive Behaviors

Care homes may close over mandatory staff vaccines, industry experts fear

Care homes may close over mandatory staff vaccines, industry experts fear Under a tough new law, more than 40,000 frontline carers will be forced out of their jobs within weeks after refusing to get the jab.

But providers were already struggling to fill record numbers of vacancies and say they will be forced to close units, floors or even entire residential homes if they cannot meet required staffing levels from November 11. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'Where's the logic?': how England's 'no jab, no job' policy will hit a care worker The Guardian