MEET KGH'S GOVERNORS: Find out about the group trying to improve patient experience at Kettering's hospital

MEET KGH'S GOVERNORS: Find out about the group trying to improve patient experience at Kettering's hospital The group’s main objective is to help ensure that patients have the best experience possible when they go into hospital

The governors at KGH have teamed up with the Northamptonshire Telegraph to give our readers an insight into their role and the work they do.

See also: 

• MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Learn about committee which works to ensure the health and well-being of all hospital staff Northamptonshire Telegraph

Residential and nursing care fee rates in West Northamptonshire could rise by 2.65 per cent

Residential and nursing care fee rates in West Northamptonshire could rise by 2.65 per cent Residential and nursing care fee rates could rise by 2.65 per cent if a proposed increase is approved by West Northamptonshire Council.

The council's cabinet will be recommended to approve the rise which is a proposed inflationary uplift for 2021-22 to support market delivery cost pressures. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Invisible deaths: understanding why deaths at home increased during the Covid-19 pandemic

Invisible deaths: understanding why deaths at home increased during the Covid-19 pandemic One of the untold stories of the Covid-19 pandemic is the dramatic rise in the number of people dying at home. Between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and 28 May 2021, over 59,000 (39 per cent) more deaths occurred at home in England and Wales than the average number of home deaths in 2015-19. Moreover, the sustained increase in people dying at home has been evident throughout the pandemic and shows no sign of abating. The King's Fund 

VacciNation: exploring vaccine confidence with people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in England

VacciNation: exploring vaccine confidence with people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in England This report, produced together with Traverse, explores vaccination confidence among people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in the UK. Its research uncovered five ways to increase public confidence: allow for agency; independence of institutions; focus on transparency; localise the approach; and address ambiguity. Healthwatch 

Half a million COVID jabs booked in ‘Glastonbury rush’ this morning

Half a million COVID jabs booked in ‘Glastonbury rush’ this morning The NHS saw a welcome surge in demand for vaccines this morning as half a million life-saving jabs were booked in a rush likened to the annual scramble for Glastonbury tickets. NHS England

See also: 

• Further measures in additional areas to tackle Delta (B1.617.2) variant Department of Health and Social Care

Lockdown lifting: Four numbers to look for this week

Lockdown lifting: Four numbers to look for this week The government faces a difficult choice in the next few days.

Many people are desperate to see the return to normality promised by the final stage of the government's roadmap to lifting lockdown.

But ministers always said 21 June was not set in stone - and could be affected by changes in the pandemic, including the emergence of new variants. BBC News

See also:

• Lockdown may have led to loss of strength and mobility BBC News
• Britain's daily Covid cases rise by 90% in biggest week-on-week jump since BEFORE Christmas The Daily Mail
• Adults with Down syndrome are THREE TIMES more likely to contract COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 misinformation was mainly spread online by bots in Facebook groups, study finds The Daily Mail
• ‘Glastonbury-style’ rush for Covid vaccine by 25- to 29-year-olds in England The Guardian
• Teaching unions call for return of masks to classrooms in England The Guardian
• Sunak could accept four-week delay to ending Covid restrictions in England The Guardian
• Covid vaccine: 25-29 year olds turned away by NHS booking system on first day they are eligible The Independent

Major hospital’s maternity services downgraded to ‘inadequate’ amid fears for mothers and babies

Major hospital’s maternity services downgraded to ‘inadequate’ amid fears for mothers and babies Maternity services at one of England’s biggest hospital trusts has been downgraded from outstanding to inadequate amid fears for the safety of mothers and babies.

The Care Quality Commission has imposed conditions on Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after an unannounced inspection in March warning it was concerned patients could be at risk of harm. The Independent 

NHS trusts hiring non-nurses for nursing roles, union warns

NHS trusts hiring non-nurses for nursing roles, union warns NHS trusts are recruiting people without the right qualifications to act as registered nurses, despite the risk to patients, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned.

It criticised what it claims is a worrying trend driven by the widespread shortage of nurses in England, where there are almost 35,000 unfilled NHS nursing posts. The Guardian

See also: 

• RCN statement calls for employers to value the role of the registered nurse Royal College of Nursing
• NHS trusts replacing nurses with non-nurses compromises safety, warns RCN The Independent

Health chiefs backing jabs and testing to beat rise in Northamptonshire Covid-19 cases

Health chiefs backing jabs and testing to beat rise in Northamptonshire Covid-19 cases Health chiefs say they are prepared for sharp rises in new Covid-19 cases across Northamptonshire.

Numbers of positive tests across the county have gone up by nearly 70 percent in ONE WEEK, according to government data. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• June 21 lockdown lifting ‘to be delayed by two weeks’ to allow time for more jabs Northamptonshire Telegraph

Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care

Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care In a highly critical report, the Health and Social Care Committee finds that workforce burnout across the NHS and social care has reached an emergency level and poses a risk to the future functioning of both services.

Only a total overhaul of workforce planning can provide a solution, say MPs.

Though covid-19 had a huge impact on workforce pressures, the Committee was told of staff shortages across the NHS and social care prior to the pandemic, with such shortages identified as ultimately the biggest driver of workforce burnout.

See also:

• ‘Bitter irony’ that health and care staff are made ill by their work The King's Fund
• NHS and social care staff burn-out at an emergency level - report BBC News
• Staff burnout in health and social care putting safety at risk, say MPs The Guardian
• NHS frontline heading for 'burnout emergency' even before Covid Metro
• NHS and social care staff burnout 'extraordinarily dangerous' to future of services, warns MP Hunt Sky News

Organ donation and transplantation 2030: meeting the need

Organ donation and transplantation 2030: meeting the need This strategy sets out a ten-year vision for deceased and living donation and transplantation in the UK. It outlines the key areas that need to be addressed as the UK continues to save and improve more lives through organ donation and transplantation after 2020. It also sets out the actions to support and maximise the potential for living donation, as well as focusing on areas for research and innovation. NHS Blood and Transplant

Chronic pain in adults 2017

Chronic pain in adults 2017 This updated report explores the responses to questions on chronic pain in the 2017 Health Survey for England. It sets out the overall prevalence of chronic pain amongst the general population as well as identifying differences between sub-groups. It examines the site and severity of the chronic pain for those who are experiencing pain, as well as the impact on their mental health. It finishes with an analysis of the use of specialist pain services. Public Health England

NHS COVID vaccine first dose drive enters ‘the home straight’ as final cohort called forward

NHS COVID vaccine first dose drive enters ‘the home straight’ as final cohort called forward The NHS COVID vaccination programme will start inviting remaining adults for their COVID-19 jabs from tomorrow, on the six month anniversary of administering the world-first approved jab. NHS England 

Covid vaccines for 25 to 29-year-olds offered in England

Covid vaccines for 25 to 29-year-olds offered in England People aged 25 and older in England will be able to book a Covid vaccine from Tuesday morning, the health secretary has announced.

And Matt Hancock said that would bring “us ever closer to the goal” of offering all adults in the UK a vaccine by the end of July. BBC News

See also: 

• Fully vaccinated adults had a 91% reduced risk of contracting COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Covid test positivity three times higher in people returning from Portugal The Daily Mail
• No10's former scientific adviser says ministers should delay June 21 reopening by a 'few weeks' The Daily Mail
• What could it mean if England’s June 21 reopening is delayed? The Daily Telegraph
• Dozens of schools in English Covid hotspots reintroduce mask rules The Guardian
• NHS trust contacts hundreds of families in effort at honesty over Covid hospital infections The Independent
• NHS spending on antidepressants rose by £139m during pandemic, study finds The Pharmaceutical Journal

US approves first new Alzheimer's drug in 20 years

US approves first new Alzheimer's drug in 20 years The first new treatment for Alzheimer's disease for nearly 20 years has been approved by regulators in the United States, paving the way for its use in the UK.

Aducanumab targets the underlying cause of Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, rather than its symptoms.

Charities have welcomed the news of a new therapy for the condition. BBC News

See also:

• Alzheimer drug: 'I'm heading in the right direction' BBC News

Dido Harding defends test and trace and says expectations too high

Dido Harding defends test and trace and says expectations too high Tory peer and former TalkTalk boss confirms she is considering applying for top job at NHS England.

Dido Harding has confirmed she could apply to lead NHS England, and has defended her much-criticised record leading the Covid test-and-trace system, saying the main issue with the service was that “expectations were set too high”.

Covid testing in the UK was now “the envy of the world”, Harding told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. The Guardian

See also: 

• Dido Harding to head the NHS? Her position would be untenable | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
• Dido Harding ‘thinking about’ applying for NHSE chief exec job HSJ
• Dido Harding may want to be the head of the NHS but some people aren’t so keen The Independent
• Should Dido Harding end up running the NHS? The Spectator

Thousands of UK men to benefit after NHS approves prostate cancer drug

Thousands of UK men to benefit after NHS approves prostate cancer drug Enzalutamide, which can be taken at home, is especially beneficial to those who cannot have chemotherapy

Thousands of men in the UK with advanced prostate cancer are to benefit from a new drug after it was approved for NHS use.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended enzalutamide as an option for treating some types of prostate cancer. The Guardian 

Indian Covid variant now 'dominant' strain in East Northants and South Northants

Indian Covid variant now 'dominant' strain in East Northants and South Northants Latest figures released today by the director for Public Health for Northamptonshire's two councils have revealed that there have been 88 confirmed cases of the new so-called Indian variant of the coronavirus.   Northamptonshire Telegraph 

‘Our son was let down’: Northampton man, 38, who died on the Racecourse ‘fell through mental health net’, inquest hears

‘Our son was let down’: Northampton man, 38, who died on the Racecourse ‘fell through mental health net’, inquest hears Daniel Sullivan's parents feel their son was 'let down by the NHS and other agencies'.

A Northampton man who died last year had been suffering with mental health issues which had worsened in the six months prior to his death, an inquest heard. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Corby's Lakeside Surgery apologises for appointments woes

Corby's Lakeside Surgery apologises for appointments woes A GP surgery has apologised after patients said they were unable to contact them or make appointments.

Lakeside Surgery in Corby, Northamptonshire, said the number of patients trying to contact them each week had risen from 4,000 in April to 7,000 in May.

Patients said they were "frustrated" at a phone system that either cut them off or keep them on hold. BBC Northampton