COVID-19: New strain spreading across UK designated 'variant of interest' by WHO

COVID-19: New strain spreading across UK designated 'variant of interest' by WHO A new fast-spreading COVID strain has been designated a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organisation.

EG.5 is descended from the Omicron variant of coronavirus and is growing in prevalence globally, including in the UK, US and China.

It has been detected in 51 countries in total, including South Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, France, Portugal and Spain. Sky News

See also:

• EG.5 Initial Risk Evaluation, 9 August 2023 World Health Organization
• WHO declares ‘Eris’ Covid strain a variant of interest as cases rise globally The Guardian
• Everything we know about EG. 5, the Covid subvariant dominating the US The Independent
• WHO classifies EG.5 as COVID-19 'variant of interest' Reuters

Generation Sad... or Soft? Half of entire global population predicted to have a mental health condition by age 75, Lancet study

Generation Sad... or Soft? Half of entire global population predicted to have a mental health condition by age 75, Lancet study Half of the world’s population could have a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety by age 75, a major study suggests. 

Researchers drew on two decades’ worth of World Health Organization surveys representing over 156,000 adults from 29 countries to look for trends in diagnoses.

They projected that one in two people could have at least one mental health disorder by the time they reach old age, a stark increase from the 2019 estimate of one in every eight. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Age of onset and cumulative risk of mental disorders: a cross-national analysis of population surveys from 29 countries (abstract) The Lancet Psychiatry

Outrage over month-long delay to flu jab roll-out as chemists demand NHS U-turns and starts scheme like usual in September to avoid chaos for millions of patients and wasting vaccines

Outrage over month-long delay to flu jab roll-out as chemists demand NHS U-turns and starts scheme like usual in September to avoid chaos for millions of patients and wasting vaccines Britain may be forced to throw away flu jabs because of the decision to delay the drive, pharmacists fear.

Usually the NHS's annual vaccination drive begins on September 1.

But health chiefs have announced this autumn's campaign, which has been scaled back massively, won't kick off until October. Officials are trying to get more clinics ready to offer the flu jab at the same time as Covid vaccines. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Community Pharmacy England calls on Ministers to prevent delay to flu vac start date Community Pharmacy England

Upcoming Industrial Action (11 - 15 August) will have a serious impact on local NHS services

Upcoming Industrial Action (11 - 15 August) will have a serious impact on local NHS services The last round of Junior Doctors strike action had a significant impact on local services across the county with more than 1,200 appointments and procedures needing to be rescheduled.

Dr Emma Donnelly, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Northamptonshire ICB and local GP said: “Junior doctors make up half of all doctors in the NHS and are qualified doctors who have up to eight years experience working as a hospital doctor, so this action will have a significant impact on hospitals in the county." Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How can we make it easier to think long term about health and care?

How can we make it easier to think long term about health and care? After several years of research and detailed analysis, the REAL Centre’s landmark report on ageing and multimorbidity, in partnership with the University of Liverpool, has finally been published.

Our journey to get here began in 2018 when we started to think about how we could build a better understanding of what the health of England’s population would look like over coming decades. We realised that we had an opportunity to support policymakers to better prepare for the future and help create a space where policy change could lead to improved outcomes. Planning, especially in health and care, takes time and relies on high-quality evidence and insight, which is what the REAL Centre is set up to provide. The report, the first instalment from this new programme of research, has several key takeaways. The Health Foundation

Back to basics – understanding lived experience and intersectionality in health and care

Back to basics – understanding lived experience and intersectionality in health and care There is a well-established case for involving communities and people with lived experience in health and care policy, service design and delivery. NHS England guidance on working in partnership with communities highlights the financial benefits and improvements to quality and health outcomes that working with local communities brings. The King's Fund

JCVI advises on eligible groups for 2023 autumn booster

JCVI advises on eligible groups for 2023 autumn booster Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's statement on the autumn 2023 programme follows interim advice published in January.

The UK COVID-19 vaccination programme is now entering its third autumn season. Vaccination helps to protect against severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19.

The advice for this autumn is to offer the vaccine to those at high risk of serious disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Health and Social Care Secretary statement on autumn booster programme Department of Health and Social Care
• Winter Covid vaccines axed for under-65s BBC News
• Major change to Covid and flu vaccine programme as jabs for under-65s will be scrapped in attempts to 'go back to normal' The Daily Mail
• NHS flu jabs and Covid boosters to be scrapped for millions The Independent
• England to deny Covid and flu jabs to under-65s despite fears for NHS this winter The Guardian
• Joint COVID and flu autumn booster vaccination programme pushed back Sky News

Why talk of a UK doctor exodus is premature

Why talk of a UK doctor exodus is premature The NHS, it is claimed, is facing an exodus of doctors. It is one of the reasons put forward to support their claims for more pay as strike action continues.

But an analysis of data by the BBC suggests this is not the case - yet.

The proportion of the medical workforce leaving the NHS has hardly changed for a decade, while figures on those seeking a move overseas do not, overall, show a clear upwards trend.

There are, however, some worrying signs - with increasing numbers of junior doctors taking a break in their training, and some evidence that aggressive marketing by authorities in Australia on social media and billboards is turning the heads of more UK medics. BBC News

Fitness: Only 5,000 steps a day needed to stay healthy, study shows

Fitness: Only 5,000 steps a day needed to stay healthy, study shows It has long been touted that 10,000 steps a day is the magic number you need to stay fit and healthy - but a new study shows fewer than 5,000 may be enough to see a benefit.

The analysis of more than 226,000 people around the world showed 4,000 was enough to start reducing the risk of dying prematurely of any cause.

Just over 2,300 is enough to benefit the heart and blood vessels. BBC News

See also:

• The association between daily step count and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis (abstract) European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
• Why you DON'T need to worry if you fall short of 10,000 steps a day... just make sure you get at least 4,000 The Daily Mail
• What happens when you hit a 4,000-step target each day The Independent

Antidepressants: I wasn't told about the side-effects

Antidepressants: I wasn't told about the side-effects About one in seven people in the UK now take medication to treat depression but some say they are not being given appropriate advice about the potential side-effects of the drugs they have been prescribed. BBC News

Life-saving effect of NHS bowel cancer screening scheme revealed: Cases fall 15% after roll-out of DIY kits that will be offered to ALL over-50s

Life-saving effect of NHS bowel cancer screening scheme revealed: Cases fall 15% after roll-out of DIY kits that will be offered to ALL over-50s The national bowel cancer screening programme has led to a 'critical' reduction in cases, a major study reveals.

Experts described the checks as 'life-saving' and urged people to participate when invited to do so by the NHS.

The tests identify abnormalities and help doctors find pre-cancerous polyps, which can often be removed before they develop into tumours. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Colorectal cancer incidence trends by tumour location among adults of screening-age in England: a population-based study (open access) Colorectal Disease
• Bowel cancer screening programme finds 20,000 cases in decade, study finds The Guardian

Crumbling hospitals are suffering chemical leaks and broken fire alarms as NHS repair bill passes £10billion

Crumbling hospitals are suffering chemical leaks and broken fire alarms as NHS repair bill passes £10billion Crumbling NHS hospitals are suffering chemical leaks and broken fire alarms as the cost of tackling the repair backlog passes £10billion, an investigation by the Liberal Democrats reveals.

Bosses reported 115 chemical incidents last year, including on children's wards, A&Es and maternity units.

Health leaders last night described the repair bill as 'eye-watering' and warned buildings and facilities are 'in a very bad way and getting worse'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS buildings ‘in a bad way and getting worse’ Evening Standard

Air pollution is linked to a rise in antibiotic resistance that poses a significant threat to human health across the world, study claims

Air pollution is linked to a rise in antibiotic resistance that poses a significant threat to human health across the world, study claims Antibiotic resistance – one of the biggest threats to global health – could be on the rise in part because of increased air pollution, a new study has warned. 

Researchers in China have found a global correlation between the a pollutant called PM2.5 in the air and cases of bacteria becoming immune to antibiotic drugs. 

Although they're not certain what's causing the link, they speculate that antibiotic resistant bacteria are being transported on PM2.5 carried by the air. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association between particulate matter (PM)2·5 air pollution and clinical antibiotic resistance: a global analysis (open access) The Lancet Planetary Health
• Air pollution linked to rise in antibiotic resistance that imperils human health The Guardian

Babylon Health, once the 'future of the NHS', goes into administration

Babylon Health, once the 'future of the NHS', goes into administration The UK AI health company touted by Matt Hancock was delisted by the New York Stock Exchange last month and has now called in the administrators

Babylon Health, the UK AI firm promoted as the future of the NHS by former health secretary Matt Hancock, has entered UK administration just two years after a high-profile listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Computing 

West Northamptonshire Council launches serious violence consultation

West Northamptonshire Council launches serious violence consultation A council has invited its residents to join a consultation that will shape how serious violence is tackled locally.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has asked anyone affected by serious violence in the past year to share their experiences in a survey.

Councillor David Smith said it would "improve the safety and wellbeing of people in our communities". BBC Northampton

See also:

• Tackling violence and improving lives through the Serious Violence Duty West Northamptonshire Council

How long are patients waiting for a GP appointment in England?

How long are patients waiting for a GP appointment in England? Many patients struggle to book a GP appointment in England. Once people have been successful in getting a booking to see their doctor, however, how long are they having to wait for their appointment? Charlotte Paddison looks at the latest data to reveal the answer – and argues that quick access to GP appointments is not the only factor to consider. Nuffield Trust

Health security from the ground up: 5 lessons for the future of the UKHSA

Health security from the ground up: 5 lessons for the future of the UKHSA This paper explores the shortcomings in the English response to Covid-19 and presents five policy ideas which would help strengthen the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and improve the UK’s resilience in the face of future health crises. Reform

NHS chaplaincy: meeting the religious and spiritual needs of patients and staff : guidance for managers and those involved in the provision of chaplaincy-spiritual care

NHS chaplaincy: meeting the religious and spiritual needs of patients and staff : guidance for managers and those involved in the provision of chaplaincy-spiritual care This document sets out for NHS managers of chaplaincy services in England guidance on how to run and manage a safe, effective and inclusive chaplaincy service, with some examples of how NHS bodies across the country are operating such services. NHS England

New NHS treatments helping extend survival for babies with rare muscle-wasting disease

New NHS treatments helping extend survival for babies with rare muscle-wasting disease Nearly three in four babies born with a rare muscle-wasting disease are now surviving for two years or more thanks to advances in NHS treatment, new data shows.

Around 70 children are born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) each year in the UK, a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness, progressive loss of movement and paralysis. NHS England

Senior doctors plan 48-hour strike for September in England

Senior doctors plan 48-hour strike for September in England Consultants who are part of the British Medical Association (BMA) in England will strike on 19 and 20 September.

The 48-hour walkout will affect routine services, but emergency care will be covered after the BMA promised to provide a Christmas Day level of cover.

The dates have been announced ahead of their next strike at the end of August.

The government has said there will be no more pay talks, after agreeing to the 6% pay increase the independent pay review body recommended. BBC News

See also:

• Consultants in England announce prospective September strike dates BMA
• Confirmed industrial action strike days NHS Employers
• BMA faces revolt within its own ranks after talk of 'indefinite walkouts' from junior doctors The Daily Mail
• Hospital consultants will strike for two days in September in pursuit of a 54 per cent pay rise as industrial action runs into its third month The Daily Mail
• Consultants in England to strike in September if government refuses talks The Guardian
• Consultants threaten further strikes in September The Independent
• Consultants to strike if government continues to 'refuse' talks and present credible offer, BMA says ITV News
• Senior doctors in England announce dates for new strikes if Government refuses deal on pay iNews
• NHS consultants threaten more strikes next month if pay talks don't reopen Metro