Pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer has developed an RSV vaccine that is administered to expectant mothers to confer antibody protection from severe disease to their unborn babies through six months of age. The Daily Mail
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Friday, 24 February 2023
World-first vaccine could be rolled out in MONTHS for baby killer winter bug RSV
World-first vaccine could be rolled out in MONTHS for baby killer winter bug RSV A vaccine to prevent severe cases of the highly contagious respiratory syncytial virus in babies could be coming as soon as August.
Thursday, 23 February 2023
Fewer cancelled operations at Northampton General Hospital than last year, figures reveal
Fewer cancelled operations at Northampton General Hospital than last year, figures reveal Northampton General Hospital cancelled fewer elective operations at the last minute in the three months to December 2022 than across the same time period the year before, new NHS figures show. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Public perceptions of the NHS: a winter of discontent
Public perceptions of the NHS: a winter of discontent The NHS is under extreme strain and debate about the future of the health system is growing louder. As political parties look ahead to the next general election, understanding what the public thinks should help inform thinking on NHS funding and reform.
This long read examines public perceptions and expectations of the NHS. We present findings from the third wave of our programme of polling research with Ipsos that tracks the public’s views on health and social care in the UK every 6 months. The Health Foundation
See also:
- Public support for government’s handling of the NHS reaches new low, polling finds The Health Foundation
- Public support for Government’s handling of the NHS in England falls to new low Evening Standard
- Just 10% of Britons think ministers have right policies on NHS, study shows The Guardian
New figures show NHS workforce most diverse it has ever been
New figures show NHS workforce most diverse it has ever been The NHS workforce is more diverse than at any other point in its history, according to an annual report into race equality across the health service.
Published today, the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard shows Black and minority ethnic (BME) staff make up almost a quarter of the workforce overall (24.2% or 383,706 staff) – an increase of 27,500 people since 2021 (22.4% of staff).
The analysis shows more than two fifths (42%) of doctors, dentists, and consultants, and almost a third (29.2%) of our nurses, midwives, and health visitors are from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. NHS England
See also:
- NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) 2022 data analysis report for NHS trusts NHS England
- NHS Confederation responds to WRES 2022 report NHS Confederation
- On the day briefing: Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) NHS Providers
- Record NHS diversity levels, new report finds National Health Executive
- WRES report warns of ‘disadvantage’ facing Black nurses Nursing Times
Ethnic minority Covid death gap closes – ONS
Ethnic minority Covid death gap closes – ONS People from ethnic minority backgrounds are no longer significantly more likely to die of Covid-19, new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows.
Analysts looked at mortality rates for different ethnic communities between January and November 2022, when Omicron was the dominant Covid variant.
Early in the pandemic, deaths involving coronavirus were higher among black and Asian people than white people. BBC News
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Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas users risk spine damage, say doctors
Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas users risk spine damage, say doctors Doctors at an east London hospital say they are seeing so many risky cases of laughing gas misuse that they have drawn up treatment guidelines for colleagues in the UK.
Nitrous oxide, sold in metal canisters, is one of the most commonly used drugs by 16 to 24-year-olds.
Heavy use can lead to a vitamin deficiency that damages nerves in the spinal cord.
The Royal London Hospital team say medics need to be on alert. BBC News
See also:
- Nitrous oxide-induced subacute combined degeneration of the cord: diagnosis and treatment (open access) Practical Neurology
Derby maternity deaths may have been prevented - report
Derby maternity deaths may have been prevented - report Three women who died under the care of a hospital's maternity unit may have survived if earlier recommendations had been implemented, a report has said.
The cases occurred at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust over 16 months.
A review by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) also found a culture of intimidation and bullying and made safety recommendations. BBC News
Hospital patients with learning disabilities developed diabetes after being fed treats and lack of exercise
Hospital patients with learning disabilities developed diabetes after being fed treats and lack of exercise Vulnerable patients who have been detained in hospitals for years developed diabetes due to a lack of exercise and an over-reliance on treats, a national NHS review has warned.
NHS England looked into the care of almost 2,000 patients with learning disabilities and autism and found that the physical health of many had significantly declined during their stays because of poor care. The Independent
Up to 32,000 Unison NHS staff in England to strike on 8 March
Up to 32,000 Unison NHS staff in England to strike on 8 March The health union Unison has announced new strike action and warned there could be no “pick and mix solution” to the NHS dispute, after it was excluded from talks between the health secretary, Steve Barclay, and the Royal College of Nursing.
Unison said up to 32,000 of its members across the NHS in England, including ambulance staff, paramedics and some nurses, would strike on 8 March, in what it called a “serious escalation” of the dispute. The Guardian
See also:
- Fresh strike by NHS workers across England next month Evening Standard
- Ministers could offer one-off payments as way to end public sector strikes The Guardian
- Fresh strike by NHS workers across England next month as pay dispute escalates ITV News
- Urgent NHS pay talks potentially limited to just nursing staff Nursing Notes
GPs are outnumbered by RECEPTIONISTS at practices
GPs are outnumbered by RECEPTIONISTS at practices Receptionists now outnumber GPs at practices in England, MailOnline can reveal today amid the never-ending appointment crisis.
Only a quarter of all 143,000-plus staff working at surgeries across the nation are family doctors, according to our analysis.
Nurses, healthcare assistants and admin staff, including receptionists, secretaries and call handlers, make up the rest of the workforce. The Daily Mail
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Why it's NEVER too late to start exercising
Why it's NEVER too late to start exercising Exercising just once a month at any age can help stave off dementia in later life, a study found.
Keeping active throughout adulthood is the best bet for good brain health in retirement but even taking up exercise in your 60s is beneficial, research suggests.
In the first study to look specifically at age, exercise and brain health in retirement, researchers from University College London wanted to see whether timing of active lifestyles had an impact. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Timing of physical activity across adulthood on later-life cognition: 30 years follow-up in the 1946 British birth cohort (open access) Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
- Staying fit and active throughout life ‘best way to stave off dementia’ The Independent
- Could exercise be a potent weapon against neurodegenerative conditions? Medical News Today
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Parents of 20-year-old criticise NHS over death
Parents of 20-year-old criticise NHS over death The parents of a 20-year-old amateur footballer have criticised the NHS over the sudden death of their son.
Luke Abrahams, from East Hunsbury, in Northampton, died on 23 January from a bacterial infection and a flesh-eating disease.
His parents Richard Abrahams and Julie Needham said his condition was initially wrongly diagnosed, which might have led to his death.
Integrated Care Northamptonshire said a review into the case was under way. BBC Northampton
See also:
- Footballer dies after flesh-eating virus mistaken for tonsillitis The Independent
- Amateur footballer died of flesh-eating virus that was mistakenly diagnosed as tonsillitis by NHS doctors Northampton Chronicle and Echo
- Grieving parents of 20-year-old amateur Northampton footballer who died suddenly of 'infection' demand answers from NHS Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Norovirus cases increase significantly in England
Norovirus cases increase significantly in England National surveillance data shows laboratory reports of the virus are 66% higher than the average at this time of year. The biggest increase in laboratory confirmed norovirus has been seen in the group of those aged 65 years and over. While high numbers of cases in this age group is expected at this time of year, these levels haven’t been seen in over a decade. UK Health Security Agency
Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned
Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned As part of the NHS response to the safeguarding adults review concerning the deaths of Joanna, Jon and Ben at Cawston Park, a national review has been undertaken to check the safety and wellbeing of all people with a learning disability and autistic people who are being cared for in a mental health inpatient setting.
This document sets out the themes emerging from the review findings. NHS England
The NHS workforce in England
The NHS workforce in England This briefing covers the NHS workforce in England, including key targets, recruitment and retention issues, workforce planning and Government policy. House of Commons Library
Nurses to suspend 48-hour strike as talks with government start
Nurses to suspend 48-hour strike as talks with government start Intensive talks are due to start later between ministers and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) after the union halted next week's 48-hour strike in England.
Health Secretary Stephen Barclay will sit down with RCN leader Pat Cullen to discuss a compromise deal to end the stand-off over pay.
The talks are likely to focus on next year's pay rise, which is due in April.
One option is to backdate it by several months, effectively giving nurses an extra pay boost for part of this year. BBC News
See also:
- Joint Government and RCN statement Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal College of Nursing
- Matthew Taylor responds to government negotiations with the Royal College of Nursing NHS Confederation
- Danny Mortimer responds to government negotiations with the RCN NHS Employers
- NHS Providers responds to statement from the government and RCN on pay talks NHS Providers
- Pay proposal will worsen the NHS dispute UNISON
- Government recommends 3.5% pay rise for nurses and other workers BBC News
- Nurses in England to pause strike action ahead of ‘intensive’ government talks Channel 4 News
- What could the nurses’ breakthrough with the government mean for other striking unions? Channel 4 News
- Devastating NHS nursing strikes are PAUSED as ministers finally agree to 'intensive talks' over pay The Daily Mail
- Nurses in England pause strike action to enter ‘intensive’ pay talks The Guardian
- Nursing union pause strike to hold ‘intensive talks’ with government to over pay The Independent
- Tories hope U-turn on nurses’ pay will boost poll numbers The News Statesman
- In first breakthrough of long-running dispute, nurses to begin 'intensive talks' with govt today Sky News
Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts
Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts Suicidal NHS staff will be left in “dangerous” situations without support when national funding for mental health hubs ends next month, health leaders have warned.
The hubs, set up with £15 million of government funding for NHS workers following Covid, are being forced to close or reduce services as neither the department for health and social care nor the NHS has confirmed ongoing funding for 2023-24.
This will leave thousands of NHS staff, some of whom are described as “suicidal” in “complete limbo”, The Independent has been told.
Patient safety put 'at risk' by crumbling NHS hospitals in need of repair
Patient safety put 'at risk' by crumbling NHS hospitals in need of repair Patient safety put 'at risk' by crumbling NHS hospitals in need of repair.
An investigation by ITV News found raw sewage, collapsing floors and ageing walls among the structural problems facing staff at hospitals in England.
Police in England and Wales dealing with more mental health crises than ever
Police in England and Wales dealing with more mental health crises than ever The police are dealing with increasing demands to intervene with people suffering mental health crises, freedom of information requests have revealed.
Some forces across England and Wales have experienced a tripling in mental health requests between 2019 and 2021, data shows. Suffolk police have recorded an increase of 342%, Norfolk 260%, Northamptonshire 90%, and Leicestershire 54%. The Guardian
Death rates 'are NOT higher among Covid-vaccinated Brits'
Death rates 'are NOT higher among Covid-vaccinated Brits' Death rates are not higher among people vaccinated against Covid, according to official data.
Leading statisticians tasked with tracking deaths from all causes in England found rates are 'consistent' between the unjabbed and fully-jabbed.
Mortality levels were actually higher among the unvaccinated, the figures showed. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status, England: deaths occurring between 1 April 2021 and 31 December 2022 Office for National Statistics
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