M&S supplier Greencore's Covid-19 outbreak passes 300 cases

M&S supplier Greencore's Covid-19 outbreak passes 300 cases The number of workers at a sandwich making factory who have tested positive for Covid-19 has passed 300.

A first round of tests at M&S supplier Greencore, in Northampton, found 287 people had the virus.

A further 37 workers have now provided positive results following a second round of testing. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Re-testing at Greencore complete as Public Health Northamptonshire confirms results Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire's Covid-19 care home outbreaks 'no cause for concern' says public health boss Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Barton Seagrave pub confirms two coronavirus cases but rejects 'disappointing rumours' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering to get a Covid-19 regional testing centre Northamptonshire Telegraph

Here's who is eligible for a free NHS flu jab this year - and when it will be available

Here's who is eligible for a free NHS flu jab this year - and when it will be available The government wants to increase the number of people receiving the flu vaccination this year amid fears coronavirus cases could coincide with cold and flu season. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire baby deaths: Warning over sharing beds

Northamptonshire baby deaths: Warning over sharing beds The number of baby deaths with possible links to co-sleeping with parents is rising, a safeguarding board has said.

Seven infants in Northamptonshire have died unexpectedly since March, of which one is to be investigated further.

The county's safeguarding children partnership (NSCP) said most cases in the past year were not suspicious. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Safeguarding partnership gives more details about seven Northamptonshire child deaths during lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo

BAME people’s experience of British lockdown significantly worse, Wellcome survey finds

BAME people’s experience of British lockdown significantly worse, survey finds People from Black and Asian minority ethnic (BAME) groups in Britain were far more likely than their White counterparts to be very concerned about the impact of coronavirus on their personal finances, physical and mental health at the height of lockdown, and less trusting of information on the disease from health sector and government sources, according to a new Wellcome survey.

See also:

• Anxiety, Confusion and Distrust How BAME people in Britain have had a worse experience of the COVID-19 pandemic Wellcome
• BAME Britons less likely to trust Covid health officials – survey The Guardian

Improving the nation’s health: striking the right balance between national and local

Improving the nation’s health: striking the right balance between national and local In mid-August, I chaired an event with five former Secretaries of State and Ministers of State from the Department of Health (and now Social Care). While outside the sky crashed with thunder and lightning, in our virtual launch the only thing that was powerful was the agreement between politicians from all the main parties about the future direction for health. The King's Fund

Adult social care and COVID-19: Assessing the impact on social care users and staff in England so far

Adult social care and COVID-19: Assessing the impact on social care users and staff in England so far Analysis on the scale of the impact of COVID-19 on social care in England during the first phase of the pandemic. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Adult social care and COVID-19: Assessing the policy response in England so far The Health Foundation

The whole society approach: making a giant leap on childhood health

The whole society approach: making a giant leap on childhood health This report looks at the government's 'obesity strategy' announcement in July 2020 and looks at how it could be used to address growing levels of 'health risk' faced by children. This report outlines a ‘whole society’ approach to expand ambition from obesity to all health issues; tackle the link between childhood health and issues like marginalisation, poverty and deprivation; and ensure the full range of levers offered by a collective approach are being used. Institute for Public Policy Research

Delivering patient eye care services during and beyond COVID-19

Delivering patient eye care services during and beyond COVID-19 The College of Optometrists and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists have developed a joint vision that sets out principles and recommendations for the development and governance of high quality eye care services that involve other key policy and commissioning organisations.

NHS Test and Trace successfully reaches almost 300,000 people

NHS Test and Trace successfully reaches almost 300,000 people The latest weekly statistics show that the service has consistently reached the vast majority of those testing positive and their contacts in 3 months of operation. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statistical data set: COVID-19: number of outbreaks in care homes - management information Public Health England
• Research and analysis: Wider impacts of COVID-19 on health monitoring tool Public Health England

Coronavirus: Daily cases highest since mid-June

Coronavirus: Daily cases highest since mid-June The number of daily UK cases of coronavirus has risen to 1,522 in 24 hours - up from 1,048 on Wednesday - the highest tally since mid-June.

This is still much lower than the 5,000 new cases a day in April, at the peak of the epidemic.

Cases have been rising across Europe and began edging up again in the UK in July, after falling in June. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: 'Reassuring' study of children's 'tiny' risk BBC News
• Scientists target coronavirus immunity puzzle BBC News
• Covid-19: Five ways to avoid catching the virus indoors BBC News
• Matt Hancock grilled over supply teacher coronavirus risk The Daily Mail
• Test and Trace gets worse... AGAIN: Record-low 72.6% of infected patients were reached The Daily Mail
• Police issue just 38 fines for face covering breaches on public transport, new data shows The Daily Telegraph
• NHS test and trace hit by delays and Covid home test failures The Guardian
• On masks in schools – like everything else in this pandemic – Johnson is winging it | Trish Greenhalgh The Guardian
• Claims of 99% accuracy for UK Covid antibody test ‘cannot be trusted’ The Guardian
• Coronavirus: UK daily cases rise by 1,522 in highest increase since June The Independent
• Coronavirus: Nearly 2,000 infected people may have gone untraced for days due to ‘infrastructure problems’ in government testing system The Independent

Period poverty: Schools 'not aware' they can order free tampons

Period poverty: Schools 'not aware' they can order free tampons Charities say many schools and colleges are not aware they can order free period products through a government scheme, amid concerns Covid-19 has left more pupils struggling to access and afford tampons and pads.

Just under 40% of state schools and colleges have placed orders since it was launched in England in January. BBC News

Can Robots Save the NHS?

Can Robots Save the NHS? As the coronavirus pandemic grips the world, our NHS is facing its biggest crisis in a generation. New technology is one of the tools being used to fight this virus - as well as many other illnesses, and the use of artificial intelligence is on the rise across the health sector. ITV News

More than 15million patients are waiting for treatment on NHS's 'hidden' waiting list

More than 15million patients are waiting for treatment on NHS's 'hidden' waiting list More than 15 million patients are currently waiting for treatment on the NHS's 'hidden waiting list' - nearly four times higher than the official 3.9 million, a report claimed today.

Freedom of Information requests to NHS trusts have put the total number of people awaiting follow-up hospital appointments at 15.3 million. The Daily Mail

Less than half of adults saw NHS dentist in past two years, figures show

Less than half of adults saw NHS dentist in past two years, figures show Less than half of adults in England were seen by an NHS dentist over the last two years, according to new data.

Figures from NHS Digital have shown that within a 24-month period, up to the end of February, only 49.7% of adults received any dental treatment. Sky News

M&S supplier Greencore back in operation after Covid closure

M&S supplier Greencore back in operation after Covid closure Production is back under way at a sandwich-making factory days after it was closed because almost 300 workers tested positive for Covid-19.

M&S supplier Greencore in Northampton ceased production on Friday, with workers told to self-isolate.

The Bakers' Union said staff have been asked to return to work before periods of self-isolation have finished. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Union criticises Northampton sandwich factory for calling workers back in less than a week after ordering employees into isolation Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Coronavirus risk at Wellingborough horse fair is low, say public health officials Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• £8.5m covid shortfall could impact new unitaries start up balances Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Bank Holiday horse fair: The statement in full from Police, Wellingborough council and Public Health Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• New Covid-19 testing unit opens in Wellingborough town centre Northamptonshire Telegraph

PPE: care workers delivering homecare during the Covid-19 response

PPE: care workers delivering homecare during the Covid-19 response This national intelligence report provides insight into a safety risk related to PPE requirements for care workers delivering homecare during the Covid-19 response. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Unclear UK advice on PPE cited in home care Covid-19 death inquiry The Guardian
• Coronavirus: ‘Confusing’ advice from Public Health England put patients at risk, watchdog says The Independent

How has Covid-19 and associated lockdown measures affected loneliness in the UK?

How has Covid-19 and associated lockdown measures affected loneliness in the UK? This briefing highlights findings from the Covid Social Study, as part of ongoing data analysis work with University College London. This study has surveyed over 70,000 people since March 2020, asking different questions about their experiences and wellbeing over the past few months, including asking people about loneliness. What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Women in healthcare: moving from the front lines to the top rung

Women in healthcare: moving from the front lines to the top rung This report shows women in healthcare have made progress and continue to report high job satisfaction. However, women also encounter persistent obstacles to advancement, particularly for senior positions, where they remain underrepresented. McKinsey & Company

Suicide Prevention in Gypsy and Traveller communities in England

Suicide Prevention in Gypsy and Traveller communities in England The suicide rate for members of the Traveller community is six times higher than the general population, yet Gypsy and Traveller communities are not recognised as a high-risk group, nor mentioned once in the Government’s National Suicide Prevention Plan. This paper assesses 79 local suicide prevention plans which represent 113 local areas to see whether the high suicide rate in Gypsy and Traveller communities has been identified and mitigated against on a local level. It finds that only five out of 79 local suicide prevention plans in England mention Gypsy and Traveller communities. Friends, Families and Travellers

New payment for people self-isolating in highest risk areas

New payment for people self-isolating in highest risk areas People on low incomes who need to self-isolate and are unable to work from home in areas with high incidence of COVID-19 will benefit from a new payment scheme. Department of Health and Social Care

UK flu jab rates prompt complacency warning

UK flu jab rates prompt complacency warning Complacency over the flu jab risks overwhelming the NHS, experts warn, as data reveals the scale of the challenge in expanding the vaccination programme.

Last month, the government announced plans to double the amount of people who receive the influenza jab.

But BBC analysis has found the take-up rate among those people in vulnerable groups eligible for a free jab has declined in recent years. BBC News

See also:

• Flu: Why we still need to worry about it this winter BBC News

The deterioration of Britain's mental health can no longer be ignored

The deterioration of Britain's mental health can no longer be ignored | Frances Ryan It feels as if the nation’s mental wellbeing has been strangely ignored throughout the pandemic. The public has experienced what is by any definition a traumatic event this year with little time to grieve or process it, often while enduring financial insecurity and hardship. A survey by the Office for National Statistics shows the number of adults in Britain with depression has doubled during the pandemic. Almost one in five people experienced depression in June, with young adults, women, key workers and disabled people among those most likely to be affected, as well as those unable to meet unexpected costs. The Guardian

Britain's two-metre social distancing rule 'is based on outdated science'

Britain's two-metre social distancing rule 'is based on outdated science' Britain's two metre social distancing rule is based on outdated science and is not far enough in crowded places like bars, experts say.

Dr Nicholas Jones and colleagues at the University of Oxford said the rule was produced from studies dating back up to 100 years ago and is too simplistic.

Instead, there should be a grading system depending on how 'risky' a place is, they said. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Two metres or one: what is the evidence for physical distancing in covid-19? (open access) The BMJ
• Coronavirus: Obesity 'increases risks from Covid-19' BBC News
• First Scotland deaths after positive test for six weeks BBC News
• Coronavirus: Payment for people on low incomes who must self-isolate BBC News
• UK announces Covid-19 deaths for Wednesday The Daily Mail
• BAME Britons less likely to trust Covid health officials – survey The Guardian 
• Saving lives or UK economy from Covid a 'false choice', MPs warn The Guardian

Staff sickness rate at Northamptonshire Healthcare fell during lockdown

Staff sickness rate at Northamptonshire Healthcare fell during lockdown The sickness absence rate among staff at Northamptonshire Healthcare fell at the start of lockdown, figures show, despite illness rising elsewhere in the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Greencore: Northampton factory at centre of Covid-19 outbreak remains open

Greencore: Northampton factory at centre of Covid-19 outbreak remains open A sandwich-making factory at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak has remained partially open despite almost 300 staff testing positive for the virus.

Workers at M&S supplier Greencore in Northampton, say departments including dispatch are still working despite a temporary government closure.

The company said a "small number" of workers were working "in order to monitor and maintain the site". BBC Northampton

See also:

• Greencore completes deep clean as 'small number' of staff return to Northampton site, company confirms Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Time to deliver real change for people with a learning disability and autistic people

Time to deliver real change for people with a learning disability and autistic people A new report by NHS Providers calls for immediate action to tackle stigma and the historic underfunding of services for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

The report says the longstanding inequity in the development, commissioning and delivery of these services has harmed the health and wellbeing of these vulnerable groups of individuals, resulting in reduced life expectancy and – in extreme cases – increased risk of abuse.

However the report also highlights the fact that most learning disability and autism services are providing people with good care according to Care Quality Commission, and there are some services rated as outstanding. NHS Providers

See also:

• Getting it right for everyone: meeting the needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people in NHS services NHS Providers
• Making 2020s the decade we deliver real change for people with a learning disability and autism NHS Providers
• Sending learning disabled patients to private hospitals increases risk of abuse, NHS warned The Independent

Face coverings in education

 Face coverings in education Guidance on the use of face coverings for schools and other education institutions that teach people in Years 7 and above in England. Department for Education

Coronavirus: Nottinghamshire woman, 75, 'first positive test within UK'

Coronavirus: Nottinghamshire woman, 75, 'first positive test within UK' The earliest known person to contract coronavirus within the UK has been identified, scientists believe.

Analysis of samples by the University of Nottingham showed a 75-year-old woman, from Nottinghamshire, tested positive on 21 February.

She is also understood to be first in the UK to die after contracting Covid-19. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Face coverings U-turn for England’s secondary schools BBC News
• Pressure grows for masks in England's schools BBC News
• Ministers have defied SAGE advice to screen all hospital patients for Covid-19 The Daily Mail
• Drug giant AstraZeneca starts trial of Covid-19 antibody injections The Daily Mail
• From face masks to contact tracing: the full list of Government coronavirus U-turns The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson drops advice against face mask use in English schools The Guardian
• Has England learned any lessons from the first wave of coronavirus? The Guardian 
• Coronavirus: Two more cases of reinfection reported in Europe The Independent

Oral sex linked to vaginal condition bacterial vaginosis

Oral sex linked to vaginal condition bacterial vaginosis Oral sex may create an environment for a common vaginal condition called bacterial vaginosis or BV, according to research in the journal PLoS Biology.

BV is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is an imbalance of the usual bacteria found in the vagina. BBC News

See also:

• Glycan cross-feeding supports mutualism between Fusobacterium and the vaginal microbiota (open access) PLOS Biology

Spreadsheet error led to Edinburgh hospital opening delay

Spreadsheet error led to Edinburgh hospital opening delay A mistake in a spreadsheet set in motion a series of events that delayed the opening of a £150m hospital, a new report has revealed.

Last-minute issues with ventilation prevented the opening of Edinburgh's new children's hospital last July. BBC News

Parliament officials reject petition over lack of non-Covid NHS care

Parliament officials reject petition over lack of non-Covid NHS care Committee accused of censorship after petition deemed ‘not a matter for ministers’.

Parliamentary authorities have been accused of censorship after refusing to accept a charity’s petition highlighting non-Covid patients not receiving NHS care during the pandemic. The Guardian

NHS prescription 'season ticket' would have saved a million people money, investigation reveals

NHS prescription 'season ticket' would have saved a million people money, investigation reveals Over a million people could have saved on NHS prescriptions with a “season ticket” last year, an investigation has revealed.

Patients who paid for at least 12 prescriptions last year could have saved £40 on average, the consumer website MoneySavingExpert.com found. iNews

Doctors call on BMA to survey members on industrial action over 'real-terms pay cuts'

Doctors call on BMA to survey members on industrial action over 'real-terms pay cuts' Doctors will call on the BMA to ask members if they would support a ballot on industrial action to tackle the 'real-terms pay erosion' the profession has experienced over the past decade at a meeting next month. GPonline

See also:

• Pay award for hospital medical and dental staff, doctors and dentists in public health, the community health service and salaried primary dental care NHS Employers

Covid-19 tests in Northamptonshire hit by capacity issues in labs

Covid-19 tests in Northamptonshire hit by capacity issues in labs Covid-19 test centres in Northamptonshire could be forced to turn people away today due to issues with laboratory capacity.

Five sites are set up around the county in Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Thrapston and Grange Park today (Monday) as health officials attempt to control a rise in the rate of infections. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Re-testing of Greencore employees who tested negative still ongoing, says Public Health Northants Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• What can police do to enforce Covid-19 restrictions now Northampton is on Government watchlist? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• How are Northampton schools preparing for the return of thousands of children after coronavirus lockdown? Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Seven Northamptonshire children died during lockdown

Seven Northamptonshire children died during lockdown Seven Northamptonshire children have died during lockdown and abuse or neglect are suspected in all cases.

Six of those who died were babies and toddlers according to brief details in a safeguarding report written by Northamptonshire clinical commissioning group’s chief nurse Angela Dempsey. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Can the real ‘anchor institutions’ stand up?

Can the real ‘anchor institutions’ stand up? In 2004, Kevin Bond became the general manager for mental health services in Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire: a typical set of ‘Cinderella’ services, understaffed, underfunded, and discretely hidden in a large hospital trust. Kevin was determined to right institutional injustices for people with mental health problems. The King's Fund

Building a Better Future for Nursing: RCN members have their say

Building a Better Future for Nursing: RCN members have their say This report details the findings of the Building a Better Future survey which was open to all RCN members from May to June 2020. It explores data from the survey, including initial comparisons between different settings and experiences during the pandemic and includes details on the RCN’s plans for the next steps. Royal College of Nursing

COVID-19 and the female health and care workforce

COVID-19 and the female health and care workforce The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on health and care staff. In June the Health & Care Women Leaders Network (HCWLN) commissioned a survey to better understand the impact the pandemic has had on women working across health and care services.

Over 1,300 women responsed, this report and accompanying slide deck explain the findings. The report describes the struggles, pains and fears women working in health and care services have faced during the pandemic. The physical and emotional impact due to caring responsibilities both in and outside of work are significant. It also draws out some of the positive experiences, such as opportunities for learning and the strength of support many have received from their managers. NHS Confederation

See also:

• Survey of female NHS staff raises concerns over burnout in pandemic The Guardian

The experience of care home staff during Covid-19

The experience of care home staff during Covid-19 In May and June of 2020, a survey was carried out to understand more about the impact of Covid-19 on the care home nurse workforce within the UK. This survey was launched in the early weeks of the pandemic in response to grave concerns about the safety of the workforce and the gaps in provision that it was facing. The survey responses in the report confirm that for the majority of respondents, the pandemic has been a very challenging experience. They indicated that their work and wellbeing has been worse or much worse than at normal times, during the survey period. Queen's Nursing Institute

Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports

Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports National COVID-19 surveillance reports, including weekly summary of findings monitored through various COVID-19 surveillance systems. Public Health England

One in eight hospital virus cases 'caught on-site'

One in eight hospital virus cases 'caught on-site' Thousands of patients are likely to have been infected with coronavirus in UK hospitals, a study suggests.

The King's College London study of 10 UK hospital sites plus one in Italy found at least one in eight patients who had received hospital treatment for coronavirus had caught it on-site.

Researchers said that was a relatively low rate and showed there was effective infection control in place. BBC News

See also:

• Nosocomial COVID-19 infection: examining the risk of mortality. The COPE-Nosocomial Study (COVID in Older PEople) (open access) The Journal of Hospital Infection
• Hong Kong reports 'first case' of virus reinfection BBC News
• Coronavirus: Dr Anthony Fauci warns against rushing out vaccine BBC News
• Heads want to know if masks allowed in school BBC News
• Matt Hancock launches 'Operation Moon Shot' plan to test four MILLION people every day within months The Daily Mail
• NHS Test and Trace is directing people to Covid-19 test centres up to 175 miles away The Daily Mail
• Health chiefs defied Sage advice on hospital tests The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus home test kits run out in England and Scotland The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Thousands of health and care staff infected at work, new data shows The Independent
• Coronavirus: Scotland considers mandatory face masks in high schools as 22 teachers and pupils test positive in outbreak The Independent
• Coronavirus: Treatment hailed by Trump as 'breakthrough' is 'not conclusive', NHS says Sky News

From cancer and Covid to dementia, BAME patients are shamefully more at risk

From cancer and Covid to dementia, BAME patients are shamefully more at risk Moise Roche says that if ever he thought he was losing his memory and had dementia, there’s ‘no way’ he’d see a doctor about it.

A researcher in mental health based at University College London, he has published a number of papers in prestigious medical journals focusing on dementia in Black, African and Caribbean (BAC) populations.

While a little over 50 per cent of white people in the UK with dementia are diagnosed and treated, that number is vastly lower among those from ethnic minority groups. The Daily Mail

Government escalates Northampton onto 'Area of Intervention' list over Covid-19 infection rates

Government escalates Northampton onto 'Area of Intervention' list over Covid-19 infection rates The Government has escalated Northampton from an 'area of concern' to an 'area of intervention' over its Covid-19 infection rates.

The town has been added to a to the Government's watchlist after the borough's infection rate has risen for the fourth week in a row. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Detailed guide: Northampton: what you can and cannot do Department of Health and Social Care
• Northampton factory at centre of Covid-19 outbreak to temporarily close BBC Northampton
• NHS staff sign up to Covid-19 sniffer dog trial BBC Northampton
• Greencore employees were 'car-sharing with staff from another Northampton workplace that has also had coronavirus outbreak' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton council leader 'grateful' government has not put town into lockdown but warned more measures could come Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• KGH lands major role in Covid-19 sniffer dog trial Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Recruitment agencies asked to restrict workers in bid to stop Covid-19 transmission Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering bar shuts after worker tests positive for Covid Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Higham Ferrers pub facing action after major breach of social distancing laws Northamptonshire Telegraph

The future of public health

The future of public health Like many others, The King’s Fund was surprised to say the least, at plans to dismantle the nation’s public health agency in the middle of a pandemic. The Secretary of State’s justification for it, bringing together health protection expertise into one place, must be set against many other risks and uncertainties. The King's Fund

See also:

• Strengthening health protection: right idea, wrong time The King's Fund

West Midlands inquiry into Covid-19 fatalities in the BAME community

West Midlands inquiry into Covid-19 fatalities in the BAME community A task force has found that the disproportionate number of Covid deaths in Black and ethnic minority communities in the West Midlands were avoidable. The report calls for an independent public inquiry into the disproportionate number of BAME Covid fatalities and demanded urgent action be taken to protect communities ahead of a potential second wave of the virus. Labour List

Rapid report: learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK

Rapid report: learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK This rapid report aims to identify lessons learned to guide future care and pathway changes in the context of infection transmission and the need for public health and NHS service measures to prevent infection. Please note that free registration is required to access this document. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

Covid-19 and English council funding: how are budgets being hit in 2020–21?

Covid-19 and English council funding: how are budgets being hit in 2020–21? This report examines the scale and nature of forecast impacts on spending and income from sales, fees and charges and commercial and other sources. It explores how impacts may vary across council types, regions and council characteristics and considers the implications for future funding policy. Institute for Fiscal Studies

Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on schools and childcare reopening

Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on schools and childcare reopening Statement from the Chief Medical Officers and Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the evidence of risks and benefits to health from schools and childcare settings reopening. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Study finds very low numbers of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools Public Health England
• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in educational settings Public Health England

More than half a billion pounds to help people return home from hospital

More than half a billion pounds to help people return home from hospital People needing additional follow-on care after being discharged from hospital will be supported by a £588 million fund to cover adult social care or the immediate costs of care in their own home. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS sees increase of more than 13000 nurses in the last year

NHS sees increase of more than 13000 nurses in the last year According to newly-published employment figures from up until the end of May, the number of nurses in the NHS in England has increased by 13,840 compared with last year – while the number of doctors has risen by 9,306 too. National Health Executive

US allows emergency use of blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients

US allows emergency use of blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency authorisation for the use of plasma to treat coronavirus patients.

The technique uses antibody-rich blood plasma from people who've recovered from the disease, and has already been used on over 70,000 people in the US. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus will be with us forever, Sage scientist warns BBC News
• Coronavirus pandemic could be over within two years - WHO head BBC News
• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says it is 'vitally important' children return to class BBC News
• Coronavirus antibodies tests 'put public at risk' BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'I became alcoholic during lockdown' BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: SAGE fears R rate could be as high as 1.1 The Daily Mail
• WHO official urges young people not to feel 'invincible' against Covid-19 The Daily Mail
• NHS sickness rates hit decade high amid Covid-19 crisis
• When will the UK lockdown next be reviewed? The Daily Telegraph
• Care homes 'were bullied into accepting patients with coronavirus' The Daily Telegraph
• Cross-party MPs to sue UK government for details of Covid PPE contracts The Guardian 
• 'It was an act of principle': The Covid doctor who quit over Cummings The Guardian 
• Coronavirus cases in England increase by 27% in a week The Guardian 
• UK families bereaved by Covid-19 lose eligibility for welfare benefits The Guardian

Cystic fibrosis drug Kaftrio to be available on NHS after European licence granted

Cystic fibrosis drug Kaftrio to be available on NHS after European licence granted UK health bodies already have deals in place with maker Vertex to secure access.

The European commission has licensed a new, potentially lifesaving drug to treat cystic fibrosis, meaning it will be available on the NHS to many who have the condition. The Guardian

Children's tooth decay costs NHS more than £40m a year in England

Children's tooth decay costs NHS more than £40m a year in England Hospitals carried out 177 operations a day to remove more than one tooth from under-18s in 2018/19

Hospitals in England carried out almost 180 operations a day on children and teenagers last year to remove rotting teeth, costing the NHS more than £40m. The Guardian

Patient found dead in hospital showers two days after he was reported missing

 Patient found dead in hospital showers two days after he was reported missing A patient was found dead in a hospital shower block two days after he was reported missing from his ward, an inquest has heard.
 
Rory McLeod, 52, was the subject of a police search before he was discovered inside a locked shower cubicle at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. The Independent

Transgender charities having to 'make up for shortcomings' of the NHS

Transgender charities having to 'make up for shortcomings' of the NHS Transgender people could be left with ‘distressing’ waits to see a specialist as spiralling appointment delays mount amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Support groups are witnessing cases of self-harm and suicidal thoughts among children and teenagers who do not know when they will be able to see a gender identity specialist. iNews

Coronavirus in Northampton: 'I wake up and hope we have no lockdown'

Coronavirus in Northampton: 'I wake up and hope we have no lockdown' A town where hundreds of factory workers tested positive for Covid-19 now has the highest rate of new cases in England. What does that mean for traders on an already struggling High Street?

Even before nearly 300 people tested positive for coronavirus at a sandwich factory, Northampton was already on a watchlist. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Coronavirus: Staff in Greencore outbreak 'using food banks' BBC Northampton
• Union fighting for change as self-isolating Northampton Greencore employees paid £95 a week Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Greencore Covid-19 outbreak sparks testing site plans for Northants' large business parks Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Face masks are 'tremendously effective' at curbing the spread of Covid-19 - here's the new evidence Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS leaders’ plea to Prime Minister – ‘honour your promise on social care’

NHS leaders’ plea to Prime Minister – ‘honour your promise on social care’ The NHS will not have any hope of clearing the backlog of routine operations unless there is a comprehensive and funded plan to support social care services through the winter months.
  
That is the stark message from leading health organisations who are warning that patients will end up stranded in hospital because arrangements are not in place in the community or in care homes to support them. NHS Confederation

See also:

• NHS leaders' warning to Boris Johnson: fix social care or face the consequences iNews

Number of volunteers offering to participate in UK COVID-19 vaccine studies

Number of volunteers offering to participate in UK COVID-19 vaccine studies The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine Studies Volunteers Dashboard shows the number of volunteers in the UK who are offering to be contacted for possible recruitment into approved trials to find an effective vaccine for the virus.

The registry dashboard provides an anonymous count of volunteers across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and can be broken down by region and local authority and by age and gender. NHS Digital

Coronavirus: UK 'not considering' compulsory face masks in workplaces

Coronavirus: UK 'not considering' compulsory face masks in workplaces The UK government is not considering making the wearing of face masks compulsory in offices and workplaces, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

It comes as France ruled that coverings must be worn in most workplaces following a surge in coronavirus cases. BBC News

See also:

• 'I'm very anxious about getting back to work' BBC News
• Matt Hancock suggests 'no excuse' for people not to return to their desks The Daily Mail
• 10,000 NHS workers sign up to take part in study into Covid reinfection The Daily Mail
• Global daily Covid deaths nearing levels last seen in April as experts brand it 'wake up call' The Daily Mail
• Almost 75% of hospital Covid-19 patients still suffer symptoms three months later, study claims The Daily Mail
• Patient outcomes after hospitalisation with COVID-19 and implications for follow-up; results from a prospective UK cohort (open access preprint paper) MedRxiv
• Exclusive: Croatia to go on UK's quarantine 'red list' after infection rate triples in a week The Daily Telegraph
• The trouble with England's test and trace system – podcast The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Test and trace app unlikely to succeed without widespread public support, research suggests The Independent

Breast cancer: One-dose radiotherapy 'as effective as full course'

Breast cancer: One-dose radiotherapy 'as effective as full course' A single targeted dose of radiotherapy could be as effective at treating breast cancer as a full course, a long-term study suggests.

Researchers said people who received the shorter treatment were also less likely to die of other cancers and heart disease in the following five years.

But cancer specialists have raised concerns about the study's methodology. BBC News

See also:

• Long term survival and local control outcomes from single dose targeted intraoperative radiotherapy during lumpectomy (TARGIT-IORT) for early breast cancer: TARGIT-A randomised clinical trial (open access) The BMJ
• Single-dose radiotherapy as effective for treating breast cancer, long-term study finds University College London

Matt Hancock: abolishing PHE is 'best thing to do right now'

Matt Hancock: abolishing PHE is 'best thing to do right now' Health secretary rejects suggestion move will cause disruption as country continues to fight Covid-19

Matt Hancock has defended abolishing Public Health England and replacing it with a new body to tackle Covid-19, claiming the controversial move will not lead to disruption.

Ministers have been warned by major health bodies that axing PHE and launching a National Institute for Health Protection in its place is a hugely risky move that will distract staff who are working hard to prevent a second wave of coronavirus. The Guardian

See also:

• Abolition of Public Health England just 'passing of blame for coronavirus mistakes' The Guardian

Patient data rules could undermine vital NHS improvement projects

Patient data rules could undermine vital NHS improvement projects More than 1.5 million patients have already opted out of sharing their clinical information.

Crucial insights into how care and safety can be improved across the NHS are at risk of being undermined by new rules on patient data and confidentiality coming into force next month. The Independent

Review into death of man who spent his life 'incarcerated' in hospitals

Review into death of man who spent his life 'incarcerated' in hospitals A review has been launched into the care of a man with a learning disability who spent most of his adult life "incarcerated" in hospitals.

Clive Treacey died in 2017 following years of institutional care that his family described as "cruel and inhumane".

The review, commissioned by NHS England, will look at the circumstances leading up to Clive's death as well as the care he received from various organisations throughout his life. Sky News

Northamptonshire will be one of the first areas in the country to take on local contact tracing as health chiefs battle Covid-19 outbreaks in the area

Northamptonshire will be one of the first areas in the country to take on local contact tracing as health chiefs battle Covid-19 outbreaks in the area Northamptonshire County Council’s Public Health team are set to be amongst the first areas in the country to take on local contact tracing responsibilities when it launches today (Wednesday).

Luton, Leicester and Blackburn are already successfully carrying out local contact tracing measures and Northamptonshire proactively sought to take on this responsibility in response to a recent increase in cases to ensure as many COVID-19 cases are followed up as possible. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Repeat tests for Covid-negative Greencore workers BBC Northampton
• Northampton opposition parties say Greencore cases should have been made public sooner by Public Health Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• ‘We’re scared’: Employees react to working in Northampton food factory at centre of outbreak Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby warehouse staff sent for Covid test after worker contracts virus Northamptonshire Telegraph
• The student nurse who put her heartbreak aside to work on the Covid-19 frontline at KGH Northamptonshire Telegraph

Children with eating disorders waiting too long for treatment at Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust

Children with eating disorders waiting too long for treatment at Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust More than a dozen children with eating disorders are waiting too long for treatment at Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust despite new targets imposed this year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: June 2020

Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: June 2020 Almost one in five adults (19.2%) were likely to be experiencing some form of depression during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in June 2020; this had almost doubled from around 1 in 10 (9.7%) before the pandemic (July 2019 to March 2020). Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Depression doubles during coronavirus pandemic BBC News
• Depression in British adults doubles during pandemic, new data shows The Independent

Government creates new National Institute for Health Protection

Government creates new National Institute for Health Protection The National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) will start work immediately, with a single command structure to advance the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From today it will bring together Public Health England (PHE) and NHS Test and Trace, as well as the analytical capability of the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) under a single leadership team. This is the first step towards becoming a single organisation, focused on tackling COVID-19 and protecting the nation’s health. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Speech: The future of public health Department of Health and Social Care
• PHE reorganisation is highly risky and justification for the change has not been fully set out The Health Foundation
• ‘Found guilty without a trial’: The King’s Fund response to the shake up of public health The King's Fund
• Nuffield Trust response to Matt Hancock speech on public health Nuffield Trust
• RSPH reacts to abolition of Public Health England Royal Society for Public Health
• Questions over the future of prevention hang over the launch of the Government’s plans for public health Royal Society for Public Health
• Matt Hancock unveils National Institute for Health Protection The Guardian
• The Guardian view on scrapping Public Health England: not just wrong, but highly risky | Editorial The Guardian
• 'Shifting deckchairs' and scrapping PHE all part of Covid-19 blame game The Guardian
• Matt Hancock defends appointing Dido Harding to lead new health body – video The Guardian
• Matt Hancock takes a gamble in bringing England’s pandemic response ‘under one roof’ The Independent
• Who is Dido Harding, the head of England's new public health body? Sky News

Huge boost to national testing study will offer new COVID-19 insights

Huge boost to national testing study will offer new COVID-19 insights The ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey tracking the virus in the general population will expand from regularly testing 28,000 people per fortnight in England to 150,000 by October, the Health Secretary announced. The survey aims to increase to 400,000 people across the entire project in England. Department of Health and Social Care

UK to ramp up household coronavirus testing

UK to ramp up household coronavirus testing Coronavirus tests are to be carried out on more people to get a better idea of how many are infected at any one time.

The Office for National Statistics' Infection Survey will test 150,000 people a fortnight in England by October, up from 28,000 now.

The survey is separate from the mass testing programme of people with symptoms, as it aims to take a random sample of the general population. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus smell loss 'different from cold and flu' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Cases rise at Newark Bakkavor dessert factory BBC News
• Coronavirus: WHO says planet 'nowhere near' herd immunity The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus deaths fall to ANOTHER low: Flu and pneumonia is now killing six times more people The Daily Mail
• Winter resurgence of Covid-19 predicted as experts warn of hard times ahead The Daily Telegraph
• There is now clear data on Covid-19 and children: it should be safe to reopen English schools The Guardian 
• Coronavirus: NHS patient triage hotline stops nurses handling calls over safety fears The Independent
• Coronavirus: Fewest weekly deaths in England and Wales since lockdown began, latest figures show The Independent

Basildon University Hospital maternity unit rated 'inadequate'

Basildon University Hospital maternity unit rated 'inadequate' A maternity unit has been rated inadequate after a "lack of learning" from a mother's death led to the "same failings" in new serious cases.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors turned up unannounced at Basildon University Hospital, Essex, after a whistleblower voiced fears.

The watchdog told the department to improve last year, but returned due to concerns about six cases this year. BBC News

A-levels U-turn: Medical schools call for places cap to be lifted

A-levels U-turn: Medical schools call for places cap to be lifted Ministers are coming under pressure to lift the limit on the number of places to study medicine in England, after this week's changes to A-level results.

The number of students studying to be doctors is regulated because of the cost and for NHS workforce planning. BBC News

Northants Director of Public Health's comments about Greencore staff are 'unacceptable' says campaign group

Northants Director of Public Health's comments about Greencore staff are 'unacceptable' says campaign group Lucy Wightman has said her comments about Greencore staff are not about apportioning blame but helping workers understand where the transmission risks lie. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Day centre for adults with special needs in Northamptonshire causes confusion by stopping care for selected clients

 Day centre for adults with special needs in Northamptonshire causes confusion by stopping care for selected clients A day centre that cares for adults with special needs has cancelled a number of clients’ contracts in a move described by families as completely ‘out of the blue’.

Brixworth Farm Nursery, in Holcot Road, which is set on a plot of countryside and has allotments and an animal husbandry unit, can cater for up to 30 adults at any one time. Northamptonshire Telegraph

New guidance on financial wellbeing

New guidance on financial wellbeing New guidance which covers a range of practical steps to help employers support staff financial wellbeing. NHS Employers

See also:

• New case study on improving performance by improving staff wellbeing NHS Employers

Correspondence: Secretary of State message to the NHS on the coronavirus response

Correspondence: Secretary of State message to the NHS on the coronavirus response The Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock thanks the NHS workforce for the dedication they have shown in the national effort against coronavirus (COVID-19). Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Dido Harding to be temporary head of new health agency

Coronavirus: Dido Harding to be temporary head of new health agency Baroness Dido Harding, who runs NHS Test and Trace in England, is to be the interim chief of the government's new Health Protection Institute.

The agency - set to launch on Tuesday - will merge some of Public Health England's (PHE) pandemic response work with the coronavirus test and trace system.

Lady Harding will run the new institute until a permanent appointment is made. BBC News

See also:

• Government AXE 'obstructive' PHE after litany of disaster from testing to death figures - but replace it with body run by Tory Baroness whose husband called for department to be abolished The Daily Mail
• Dido Harding to run agency replacing Public Health England The Guardian
• Dido Harding: confident, loyal – but with precious little relevant experience The Guardian
• Dido Harding set to head agency replacing Public Health England The Independent

NHS cannabis guidelines challenged in court

NHS cannabis guidelines challenged in court The parents of a three-year-old boy with severe epilepsy are going to court to mount the first legal challenge to the guidelines on prescribing cannabis on the NHS.

Charlie Hughes went from having up to 120 seizures a day to fewer than 20, after receiving cannabis oil privately. BBC News

Restrictions on laxative sales in the UK to stop misuse

Restrictions on laxative sales in the UK to stop misuse The UK government is imposing stricter regulations on the sale of laxatives, to help prevent their misuse.

The drugs, designed to treat constipation, will be sold in smaller packs that carry warnings about never using laxatives for weight control.

People will need to be 18 or older to buy them from pharmacies and supermarkets. BBC News

NHS prepares to spend up to £10 billion on private hospital treatments

 NHS prepares to spend up to £10 billion on private hospital treatments The health service could spend up to £10bn of taxpayers’ money buying operations and treatment in the private sector over the next four years to reduce waiting times.

NHS England said the figure, which was revealed in a contract tender notice published online on Monday, is an upper estimate of what it could spend to cut waiting times. The Independent

‘We could see this tsunami of people coming’: inside the secret world of intensive care – podcast

‘We could see this tsunami of people coming’: inside the secret world of intensive care – podcast Even within a hospital, the ICU can feel like another world. But critical care goes far beyond simply keeping people alive – it’s also about what happens next. The Guardian

Coronavirus: Why face masks DO work, according to study

Coronavirus: Why face masks DO work, according to study Coughing or sneezing without a face covering exposes bystanders to at least 10,000 times more droplets, scientists claim.

Droplets — large particles that fall to the ground and land on surfaces — are thought to be the main driver of Covid-19 transmission. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Face Coverings and Respiratory Tract Droplet Dispersion (open access preprint) MedRxiv
• Coronavirus: 'It's not how I thought maternity leave would be' BBC News
• Glimmers of hope for immunity in survivors of mild COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus could be linked to type 1 diabetes in children, study suggests The Independent

‘Urgent action required’ in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough as all see double-digit Covid infections

 ‘Urgent action required’ in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough as all see double-digit Covid infections The latest coronavirus data released this evening (Friday, August 14) by public health bosses have increasing rates of positive tests in three of our boroughs.

Northamptonshire’s COVID-19 positive case rate is now classed as significantly higher than the England average. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Greencore's Covid 19-positive workers 'huge disaster' says council leader BBC Northampton
• Coronavirus: Northampton rough sleeper moves into flat after 15 years on streets BBC Northampton
• Director of health points to 'carsharing, housesharing and socialising out of work' for Covid-19 outbreak at Northampton factory Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Information on outbreaks in Northamptonshire was not published because director 'did not think public would be interested' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Number of Covid patients at KGH has reduced significantly - but don't be complacent Northamptonshire Telegraph

Court decides if 4-stone anorexic woman can refuse hospital treatment

Court decides if 4-stone anorexic woman can refuse hospital treatment A Court of Protection judge has been asked to decide whether a woman who has suffered from anorexia nervosa for more than a decade and now weighs around four stone is mentally capable of making her own decisions about ending hospital treatment.

Bosses at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have responsibility for her care and have asked the judge for a ruling. Wales Online

Better than cure: injury prevention policy

Better than cure: injury prevention policy In the United Kingdom, injuries are the leading cause of preventable death in children and young people, and of preventable years of life lost up to age 65. Although the UK has been a world leader in injury prevention policy, austerity and a lack of strategy have hampered further improvement. In a post-pandemic society, this report says the government should act on the renewed focus on public health to address the disconnect between the importance of injury prevention and its neglect in terms of funding, enforcement and strategy, to make the safety of the people the highest law. Institute for Public Policy Research

Decision making and mental capacity

Decision making and mental capacity This quality standard covers decision making in people aged 16 and over, using health and social care services who may lack capacity to make their own decisions (now or in the future). It aims to support implementation of the aims and principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and relevant Codes of Practice. It is not a substitute for these. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Voices from lockdown: a chance for change

Voices from lockdown: a chance for change This interim findings report shows that services supporting the most disadvantaged women and girls face a perfect storm as the Covid-19 lockdown eases, with demand surging but emergency funding dropping off. However, the report also highlights how many women and girls’ services have innovated and adapted to the new circumstances, despite extremely challenging conditions. Agenda

Building back health and prosperity

Building back health and prosperity This cross-party commission report argues there is now a fundamental choice to be made between greater centralisation of NHS and social care services or a comprehensive health devolution approach which incorporates national entitlements and targets but embeds the delivery of an integrated NHS, social care and public health service within broader, powerful, democratically led local partnerships. Health Devolution Commission

£5 million for social prescribing to tackle the impact of COVID-19

£5 million for social prescribing to tackle the impact of COVID-19 The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has been awarded £5 million in funding to support people to stay connected and maintain their health and wellbeing following the COVID-19 pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Restrictions on household gatherings to continue in parts of North West, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester  Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports  Public Health England

Public Health England 'to be replaced'

Public Health England 'to be replaced' Public Health England is to be replaced by a new agency that will specifically deal with protecting the country from pandemics, according to a report.

The Sunday Telegraph claims Health Secretary Matt Hancock will this week announce a new body modelled on Germany's Robert Koch Institute.

Ministers have reportedly been unhappy with the way PHE has responded to the coronavirus crisis. BBC News

See also:

• NHS chief slams ministers for trying to shift the blame for coronavirus failings onto health bosses The Daily Mail
• PHE has been a public health catastrophe The Daily Telegraph
• Hancock axes ‘failing’ Public Health England The Daily Telegraph
• Public Health England to be scrapped and merged with NHS program Digital Journal
• Ministers criticised over plan to scrap Public Health England The Guardian
• 5 Times Public Health England *Wasn't* To Blame For The Country's Terrible Coronavirus Response Huffington Post UK
• Matt Hancock to scrap Public Health England and set up new organisation for pandemic, reports say The Independent
• Government accused of ‘passing the buck’ with reported plan to scrap Public Health England The Independent
• After Matt Hancock’s snap decision to axe Public Health England, this is everything we could lose The Independent
• Health Secretary to replace Public Health England with specialist pandemic unit, says report Sky News

Coronavirus: Test for Covid-19 T cells immunity developed

Coronavirus: Test for Covid-19 T cells immunity developed A company in Cardiff has developed a test for coronavirus T cells - which can potentially provide longer-term immunity to the virus than antibodies.

The body develops T cells when fighting an infection and they can create more antibodies if a person is exposed again.

This means the immune system could remember how to fight Covid-19 even after original antibodies have faded. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Appetite grows for home working and local lockdowns BBC News
• Coronavirus: Test, trace and the curse of the 0300 phone number BBC News
• Spring will be a 'new dawn' for Britain, says deputy chief medical officer The Daily Mail
• Public Health England still hasn't pinpointed 30,000 duplicated test results in coronavirus count The Daily Mail
• Thousands of Covid-19 survivors 'can't access NHS rehabilitation services as no proof they were infected' The Daily Telegraph
• Boss who blamed staff for Hillingdon hospital Covid outbreak quits The Guardian
• NHS needs thousands of British Asians to join Covid-19 vaccine trials The Guardian
• Parts of England to remain in tighter coronavirus lockdown The Guardian
• Tory MPs press Hancock for 'postcode-level' Covid restrictions The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Cover-up fears as reviews of Covid-19 deaths among NHS staff to be kept secret The Independent