Coronavirus: NHS targets fake news spreading online

Coronavirus: NHS targets fake news spreading online The decision to delay closing schools and introduce other strict measures to combat coronavirus has been defended by England's deputy chief medical officer.

Dr Jenny Harries said experts are assessing new cases on an hourly basis to achieve a "balanced response".

She told BBC Breakfast new measures could follow as UK cases begin to rise rapidly over the next two weeks.

In the UK, five people with the virus have died. There were 319 confirmed cases as of 09:00 GMT on Monday. BBC News

See also:

• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS takes action against coronavirus fake news online NHS England
• Covid-19: The response in Singapore Nuffield Trust
• Coronavirus: Daventry families self-isolating after children come into contact with confirmed case playing rugby Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire coronavirus couple have hopes of flying home dashed Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Coronavirus symptoms 'take five days to show' BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK prepares to ask even mildly sick to stay home BBC News
• GPs call for suspension of routine appointments during coronavirus outbreak GPonline
• NHS announces plan to combat coronavirus fake news The Guardian
• Those with flu or cold could be asked to self-isolate, UK government says The Guardian
• Johnson's coronavirus press conference is anything but reassuring | John Crace The Guardian
• Even a starved NHS is still our best defence against the coronavirus | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
• NHS to start testing people for coronavirus to ease strain on PHE The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Whole of Italy placed on 'red zone' quarantine and all public events banned The Independent
• Coronavirus: Could Italy’s radical containment efforts soon be adopted in Britain? The Independent
• ‘There’s tension in the air’: How can rough sleepers cope with the coronavirus outbreak? The Independent
• Coronavirus: Can the NHS cope with the increase in demand? Sky News

Boy stuck on acute NHS ward for a year because he has no home to go to

Boy stuck on acute NHS ward for a year because he has no home to go to Disabled 10-year-old cannot leave until Manchester council settles his homeless family

A 10-year-old boy has been living on an acute NHS medical ward for nearly a year despite being well enough to be discharged because the local council has failed to find appropriate accommodation for his homeless family, the Guardian has learned.

The boy, Ahmed, has developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy and scoliosis, is fed through a tube and is registered blind. He was admitted to the Royal Manchester children’s hospital on 1 March last year with breathing difficulties. Within six weeks, he had recovered enough to be discharged, but his doctors refused to let him leave as the family were homeless and “sofa surfing” in a friend’s living room. The Guardian

New blood test for prostate cancer could help monitor patients without invasive procedure

New blood test for prostate cancer could help monitor patients without invasive procedure A new blood test for prostate cancer promises to help monitor patients without an invasive procedure, rapidly revealing whether a sufferer needs urgent treatment.

The most common cancer among men in the UK, with 50,000 cases a year, is currently diagnosed and monitored through physical inspections. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Genome-wide plasma DNA methylation features of metastatic prostate cancer (open access) Journal of Clinical Investigation

Northampton General Hospital responds to visitors 'ripping santiser dispensers' from walls and stealing supplies

Northampton General Hospital responds to visitors 'ripping santiser dispensers' from walls and stealing supplies Northampton General Hospital is asking for the public to "respect" their efforts to keep patients safe in the face of residents reportedly stealing hand sanitiser from wards. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Visitors steal hand sanitiser gel from hospital BBC Northampton
• Hand sanitiser being stolen from UK hospitals amid coronavirus outbreak The Independent
• Relatives are stealing hand sanitiser from Northampton General Hospital's wards amidst coronavirus scare Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Government outlines further plans to support health and social care system in fight against COVID-19

Government outlines further plans to support health and social care system in fight against COVID-19 Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces further proposed measures to combat spread of COVID-19, as government's enhanced approach to pandemic preparation continues. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• More than one million people use NHS 111 online to get quick advice about coronavirus NHS England
• Guidance: COVID-19: infection prevention and control Public Health England
• Research and analysis: Coronavirus (COVID-19): number of cases in England Public Health England
• Number of Northamptonshire coronavirus cases moves to four Daventry Express
• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to hold emergency Cobra meeting BBC News
• Coronavirus: NHS to get 'whatever it needs' to cope says chancellor BBC News
• Coronavirus: Emergency legislation 'will protect NHS volunteers' BBC News
• 'The NHS could have to make difficult choices' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Advice for people with health conditions BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK to spend £46m on vaccine and testing research BBC News
• Coronavirus: Man in his 60s becomes third UK death BBC News
• Coronavirus: Advice for people with health conditions BBC News
• Coronavirus: Trapped in a virus-struck care home BBC News
• Coronavirus: Ambulance chiefs consider facial hair ban BBC News
• By the time a coronavirus vaccine is found, it could all be over The Daily Mail
• Forcing suspected coronavirus patients into quarantine 'causes long-term mental health problems' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus symptoms: how quickly they show – and what to look for The Daily Telegraph
• Italy locks down 16 million people in the north in drastic bid to curb coronavirus spread The Daily Telegraph
• Practices to receive advice on how to use PPE after CMO warning GPonline
• Hancock tries to reassure UK public as GPs warn of coronavirus crisis The Guardian
• Rishi Sunak: NHS will get whatever it needs to deal with coronavirus The Guardian
• Emergency law would safeguard jobs of NHS volunteers as virus crisis deepens The Guardian
• ‘We’re concerned but calm’: five voices from the frontline against Covid-19 The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Women and children less likely to die from illness than men, research suggests The Independent
• Coronavirus: Doctors warn UK hospitals running out of protective equipment for staff The Independent
• Coronavirus: What the government's four stages to fight the disease mean The Independent

CQC case studies show how trusts have maintained their ratings

CQC case studies show how trusts have maintained their ratings In 2017 and 2018, CQC published reports on NHS acute trusts and NHS mental health trusts.

The reports showed how the trusts had achieved significant improvements in their ratings.

Towards the end of 2019 we revisited four of those trusts. We found out how they had sustained the improvements or improved further. Care Quality Commission

Home and dry: the need for decent homes in later life

Home and dry: the need for decent homes in later life This report, written with Care & Repair England, reveals that over two million over-55s are living in a home that endangers their health or wellbeing. The report into non-decent housing in England found that over 4.3 million homes in England don’t meet basic standards of decency, most commonly because of the presence of a serious hazard to their occupants’ health or safety. Centre for Ageing Better

Hospify becomes first NHS-approved clinical messaging app

Hospify becomes first NHS-approved clinical messaging app Hospify has become the first clinical messaging app to be made available on the NHS Apps Library.

The app, which provides an NHS-compliant platform for sending and receiving messages and can be used by clinicians to share patient information, is now approved for use by professionals and patient across the NHS.

Hospify said it had taken more than a year for the app to pass through “rigorous” testing and assessment processes by various NHS organisations and regulatory bodies. Digital Health

Gender pay gap leaves general practice missing out on 'huge pool of talent'

Gender pay gap leaves general practice missing out on 'huge pool of talent' General practice is missing out on a huge pool of talent because of disincentives for women to become partners that are central to the profession's yawning gender pay gap, a top BMA official has warned. GPonline

International Women's Day: Personalised scrub caps for women surgeons

International Women's Day: Personalised scrub caps for women surgeons A group of female surgeons are heading up a new initiative to stop them being mistaken for non-surgical staff.

To mark International Women's Day they have produced personalised theatre scrub caps to promote women in surgery.

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry, Shropshire, said approximately 12% of surgeons across the UK were female.

Gillian Cribb had the idea, saying many people assumed "if you're not male, you're not an orthopaedic surgeon". BBC News

NHS campaign promoting cervical smear tests fails to mention women in leaflet

NHS campaign promoting cervical smear tests fails to mention women in leaflet An NHS campaign to encourage more people to attend smear tests included leaflets which failed to specifically mention women in a section detailing who is eligible. The Daily Mail

Bowel cancer screening for over-50s is still not happening despite health chiefs' pledge

Bowel cancer screening for over-50s is still not happening despite health chiefs' pledge The Department of Health and Social Care pledged to take steps to lower the screening age from 60 to 50 in 2018. By 50, an individual has double the risk of developing bowel cancer than at 40. The Daily Mail

Northampton care home closure gives residents' families four weeks to find new accommodation

Northampton care home closure gives residents' families four weeks to find new accommodation A Northampton care home is closing, leaving the families of its residents four weeks to find new placements for their loved ones.

Argyle House nursing and residential home broke the news to family members in a letter on Tuesday (March 3), blaming a lack of funds for the closure. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Cardiovascular disease and population health: thinking beyond the hospital ward

Cardiovascular disease and population health: thinking beyond the hospital ward Despite the perception of tremendous advances in modern medicine and the management of cardiovascular disease over several decades, last year the British Heart Foundation revealed that premature death rates for the condition have risen for the first time in 50 years. How can this be explained? The King's Fund

Achieving scale and spread: Learning for innovators and policy-makers

Achieving scale and spread: Learning for innovators and policy-makers In recent years, a significant number of innovators have forged ways to scale and spread innovation in the NHS. However, despite some existing work in this area, less is known about how to achieve greater scale and spread beyond early adopters. The Nuffield Trust was commissioned by the NHS Innovation Accelerator to help fill this knowledge gap.

Feeling the strain What The Commonwealth Fund’s 2019 international survey of general practitioners means for the UK

Feeling the strain: What The Commonwealth Fund’s 2019 international survey of general practitioners means for the UK The Commonwealth Fund surveyed 13,200 primary care physicians across 11 countries between January and June 2019. This included 1,001 general practitioners (GPs) from the UK. The Health Foundation analysed the data and reports on the findings from a UK perspective.

In some aspects of care, the UK performs strongly and is an international leader. Almost all UK GPs surveyed use electronic medical records, and use of data to review and improve care is relatively high.

The survey also highlights areas of major concern for the NHS. Just 6% of UK GPs report feeling ‘extremely’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their workload – the lowest of any country surveyed. Only France has lower overall GP satisfaction with practising medicine. GPs in the UK also report high stress levels, and feel that the quality of care that they and the wider NHS can provide is declining.

See also:

• UK GPs the least satisfied among high income countries with amount of time they have with patients The Health Foundation
• Hurried appointments are leaving GPs stressed and dissatisfied, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• UK GPs more stressed and dissatisfied than international counterparts GPonline

Mental health crisis services rolled out across England

Mental health crisis services rolled out across England Mental health crisis teams will be strengthened and new alternative forms of provision such as safe havens and crisis cafes will open across the country as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

More than £200 million of national funding has been allocated to local areas to transform urgent and emergency mental health care through a network of services over the next two years. NHS England

Better Births four years On: a review of progress

Better Births four years On: a review of progress The report shows that good progress is being made over time in reducing perinatal and maternal mortality, despite an overall increase in the complexity of care. However, the picture is complex and in some areas it lacks clarity, partly as a result of data quality, and partly as a result of the time lag in the data. NHS England

Shropshire baby deaths: Trust will return £1m it received for 'good care'

Shropshire baby deaths: Trust will return £1m it received for 'good care' An NHS trust at the centre of an inquiry into preventable baby deaths will repay money it received for providing good maternity care.

In 2018, Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust received almost £1m, weeks before its services were rated inadequate.

The BBC revealed in December the trust had qualified for the payment under the NHS's Maternity Incentive Scheme.

The trust said an "incorrect submission" had been made and it had ordered an independent review. BBC News

See also:

• Maternity safety campaigners head to Downing Street to demand action The Independent

Coronavirus: Older patient becomes first virus fatality in UK

Coronavirus: Older patient becomes first virus fatality in UK A woman with underlying health conditions has become the first person in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust said the patient, understood to be in her 70s, had been "in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons".

She was admitted and tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.

It comes as the number of UK people diagnosed with the virus reached 116, a rise of more than 30 in 24 hours. BBC News

See also:

• Second coronavirus case in Northamptonshire is confirmed by health officials Northamptonshire Telegraph
• CMO for England announces first death of patient with COVID-19 Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) listed as a notifiable disease Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19: guidance for health professionals Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• How we will continue to regulate in light of novel coronavirus (Covid-19): Joint statement from Chief Executives of statutory regulators of health and care professionals GMC, NMC et al
• Guidance: COVID-19: specified countries and areas Public Health England
• Coronavirus 'community transmission highly likely' BBC News
• Coronavirus: How wash your hands - in 20 seconds BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK moves to part two of virus plan as cases hit 90 BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK is most relaxed, least likely to take precautions The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus can survive on surfaces for three days, says NHS The Daily Mail
• The big danger of coronavirus is that we panic ourselves into a greater crisis The Daily Telegraph
• Medical students and recently retired doctors could help coronavirus response, says CMO GPonline
• CQC to continue inspecting practices despite coronavirus outbreak GPonline
• Why we need worst-case thinking to prevent pandemics The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Doctors and nurses told they can break rules during outbreak The Independent
• Coronavirus: ‘This is not a drill,’ WHO chief says as he warns some nations not grasping reality of disease threat The Independent
• Coronavirus: First person dies after testing positive for virus in UK The Independent
• Coronavirus: What should I do to avoid being infected? The Independent
• Pharmacists could be 'redeployed' to short-staffed areas under NHS COVID-19 plans Pharmaceutical Journal
• NHS England to distribute free coronavirus protective equipment to GP practices Pulse

Boris Johnson close to breaching 100-day promise on social care talks, warn councils

Boris Johnson close to breaching 100-day promise on social care talks, warn councils Next week’s Budget should be used to make urgent progress on the cross-party talk on adult social care which Boris Johnson promised within 100 days of the December election, local councils have said.

The budget falls just 10 days short of the prime minister’s self-imposed deadline, with no sign of the talks getting under way.

Council bosses warned that without a new settlement for social care, local services in England face a funding gap of almost £6.5bn by 2025. The Independent

See also:

• The lives we want to lead - towards change, towards hope Local Government Association

Shocking rough sleeper deaths show the NHS is failing those who need it most

Shocking rough sleeper deaths show the NHS is failing those who need it most | Richard Vize People on the streets are dying decades early, often of treatable conditions

People living on the streets are dying three decades early, but NHS intransigence is undermining attempts to improve services.

Official statistics reveal a shocking story of early, avoidable death. In 2018 the average age of people who died while homeless in England and Wales was around 44. In other words, these 726 souls typically died more than three decades too soon, losing 22,000 years of life between them.

Homeless people find multiple barriers in the health service. The Guardian

'Not a single country' is on course to meet targets to REVERSE spiralling obesity rates by 2025

'Not a single country' is on course to meet targets to REVERSE spiralling obesity rates by 2025 Countries are 'worryingly off-track', World Obesity Federation report says. There is a less than a 10 per cent chance the world will meet targets, research suggests. The UK has 'zero per cent' chance. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Obesity: missing the 2025 global targets (report) World Obesity Federation
• World Obesity Day: ‘All countries significantly off track to meet 2025 WHO targets on Obesity’ World Obesity Federation

NHS test used by GPs to detect adults with autism is UNRELIABLE, academics warn

NHS test used by GPs to detect adults with autism is UNRELIABLE, academics warn An autism test used by GPs to flag adults with the condition in adults is 'unreliable', academics have said.

The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) screens adults who are suspected of having the condition but do not have learning disabilities.

They are asked 10 questions including 'do you notice small sounds others don't?' and 'do you find it hard to read people's emotions from their face?'.

British psychologists examined the effectiveness of AQ10 in measuring autism using data from over 6,500 people in the general population. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Psychometric concerns with the 10-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) as a measure of trait autism in the general population (open access) Experimental Results

Meet the Northampton nursing student who wants to go the extra mile to help children on mental health wards

Meet the Northampton nursing student who wants to go the extra mile to help children on mental health wards A student nurse who is making it her mission to help children who are on mental health wards in Northampton.

Jade Pancoust has worked in adult mental health care for nine years and is in her final year of studying for a mental health nursing degree at the University of Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Guidance: E-cigarettes: use by patients in NHS mental health organisations

Guidance: E-cigarettes: use by patients in NHS mental health organisations Advice for commissioners, service providers and mental health trusts providing care to NHS patients who use electronic cigarettes. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS action saves 3,000 more babies’ lives

NHS action saves 3,000 more babies’ lives The NHS in England is saving hundreds more babies’ lives every year than a decade ago, with thousands more to be saved thanks to the Long Term Plan and ongoing action to make services safer.

Professor Jaqueline Dunkley-Bent, the first-ever NHS chief midwifery officer, has praised improvements to local maternity services which saw a reduction of the stillbirth rate by more than a fifth (21%) between 2010 and 2018 – meaning 2,900 fewer stillbirths. NHS England

State of child health in the UK

State of child health in the UK This report shows that for many measures of children’s health and wellbeing, progress has stalled, or is in reverse – something rarely seen in high income countries. The authors highlight that, even where there have been notable improvements in children’s health, the UK is often lagging far behind other countries. For example, although there has been a fall in the number of emergency asthma admission rates across all four nations, the UK still has one of the highest mortality rates in Europe for children and young people with asthma. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

The NHS nursing workforce

The NHS nursing workforce Nurses are critical to the delivery of health and social care services, working across hospitals, community services, care homes and primary care. In 2019, around 519,000 people in England were registered to practise as a nurse, while the NHS employed 320,000 nurses in hospital and community services, making up about a quarter of all NHS staff.

In January 2019, the NHS Long Term Plan acknowledged the need to increase staff numbers, noting that the biggest shortfalls were in nursing. The NHS set up the People Plan programme to decide how it would secure the workforce it needed to meet its future service commitments. In this report, we define workforce planning as the analysis and plans required to ensure that the NHS has the number and type of staff it needs, now and in the future. National Audit Office

See also:

• NHS still needs 43,000 MORE nurses as one in eight job posts are empty The Daily Mail

Coronavirus: Will NHS buckle under the strain?

Coronavirus: Will NHS buckle under the strain? The UK is braced for an epidemic of coronavirus cases, with health officials warning widespread transmission is now "highly likely".

If this happens, many will need hospital treatment. Will the NHS be able to cope? BBC News

See also:

• CMO for England announces 32 new cases of novel coronavirus Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• On the origin and continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 (open access) National Science Review
• UK coronavirus cases jump to 85 BBC News
• Coronavirus: Keep it simple, stick to facts - how parents should tell kids BBC News
• Coronavirus readiness: Three technology-led steps the NHS is taking Computer Weekly
• Human trials of coronavirus vaccines could start next MONTH in the UK and US The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus will kill Britons, warns Britain's Chief Medical Officer The Daily Mail
• TWO strains of the killer coronavirus are spreading, study claims The Daily Mail
• Practice with 20,000 patients in two-week shutdown as UK coronavirus cases spike GPonline
• British public demands more information on coronavirus cases The Guardian
• Majority of retired NHS staff don't want to return to tackle Covid-19 crisis The Guardian
• PM: workers with coronavirus will get sick pay from day one The Guardian
• 'The public has a right to the truth': NHS staff speak out on coronavirus fears The Independent
• Coronavirus: UK cases jump to 87 in biggest single-day increase so far The Independent
• Coronavirus in the UK: NHS plan to increase video consultations 'needs careful thought', says BMA deputy chair iNews
• These numbers show how well the NHS can treat a coronavirus crisis Wired

East Kent baby deaths: 'Hospital did not learn from mistakes'

East Kent baby deaths: 'Hospital did not learn from mistakes' The parents of a baby who nearly died after a series of failings during his birth said they were "heartbroken" mistakes continued to be made

East Kent Hospitals told Harry Halligan's parents they would learn lessons from his delivery in 2012.

But similar failings recently came to light after the death of Harry Richford in 2017 and the trust is now being probed over up to 15 baby deaths. BBC News

NHS 'failing' patients living with HIV

NHS 'failing' patients living with HIV The failure to address the mental-health needs of people with HIV could lead to an increase in infections, a cross-party group of MPs suggests.

People with HIV are twice as likely to experience mental-health difficulties.

And in those with depression, support raises adherence to medication by 83%.

But most HIV clinics have no mental-health professionals on staff, which, the MPs say, could be reversing progress made over the past decade toward ending the epidemic in the UK. BBC News

Late diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy 'putting women at risk'

Late diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy 'putting women at risk' NHS figures show 30 ectopic pregnancies were missed, leading to serious harm in 2017/2018

Women are at risk of serious harm and death because hospitals are not always diagnosing ectopic pregnancies quickly enough, an investigation reveals.

About 12,000 women a year in the UK suffer an ectopic pregnancy – when a fertilised egg grows outside the womb – putting them at risk if a fallopian tube containing the foetus ruptures and causes potentially fatal heavy bleeding. The Guardian

400 diagnoses of cancer per DAY could be avoided if 'Britons lived healthier lives'

400 diagnoses of cancer per DAY could be avoided if 'Britons lived healthier lives' More than 400 diagnoses of cancer could be avoided every day if the nation was healthier, a charity has claimed.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has estimated around 40 per cent of cases could be prevented if people stopped smoking and lost weight.

Both factors are leading causes of cancers, causing 15 per cent and six per cent of diagnoses respectively. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Thousands of cancer cases avoidable in the UK World Cancer Research Fund

Domestic abuse service run by Northamptonshire's councils, police and health commissioner in crisis

Domestic abuse service run by Northamptonshire's councils, police and health commissioner in crisis Northamptonshire’s domestic abuse service is in crisis with some parts of the service deemed as ‘unacceptable and unsafe’.

Key partners are now being asked to put in more money to ramp up the staffing levels at the Sunflower Centre. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Case of coronavirus CONFIRMED in Northamptonshire

Case of coronavirus CONFIRMED in Northamptonshire A case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Northamptonshire today (Tuesday).

The Department for Health and Social Care has taken to Twitter this afternoon to announce that a case has been confirmed in the county. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Coronavirus action plan launched

Coronavirus action plan launched The action plan provides information on the government's plans to contain the spread of coronavirus and what action could be taken if the virus does spread. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Coronavirus action plan Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus action plan: Health Secretary's statement to Parliament Department of Health and Social Care
• Public information campaign focuses on handwashing Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS 111 service to help people with coronavirus NHS England
• Coronavirus: Hospital patients to be seen via video link BBC News
• Coronavirus: Up to fifth of UK workers 'off sick at same time' BBC News
• Coronavirus: How do I protect myself? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Drug shortage fears as India limits exports BBC News
• Coronavirus: Face mask ads banned for 'misleading' claims BBC News
• 'Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds': NHS to hammer home hygiene message The Daily Mail
• Global supply of masks, gloves and gowns is 'rapidly depleting' WHO says The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus threatens paracetamol shortage: Misery for millions of hungover Brits The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus action plan: Travellers urged to make sure destination has good healthcare The Daily Telegraph
• Retired doctors rushed back to tackle coronavirus could be at risk, BMA warns GPonline
• Coronavirus could mean one in five people off work and cancellation of non-urgent NHS care GPonline
• The Guardian view on the UK’s coronavirus plan: sensible, but belated | Editorial The Guardian
• Battling coronavirus misinformation in the age of social media The Guardian
• I’m an ICU doctor. The NHS isn’t ready for the coronavirus crisis | Tim Cook The Guardian
• Majority of retired NHS staff don't want to return to tackle Covid-19 crisis The Guardian
• Thousands of intensive care patients to be tested for Covid-19 The Guardian
• Covid-19: government advises UK public to carry on as normal The Guardian
• UK coronavirus plans would strip police and fire services to essentials The Guardian
• Coronavirus: NHS declares national major incident over virus outbreak The Independent
• Coronavirus: UK officials told to create extra mortuary space as government warns of surge in deaths
• NHS 111 launches dedicated online tool for coronavirus OnMedica
• Coronavirus: NHS England declares level four incident over outbreak Sky News

Child protection: duties to report concerns (England)

Child protection: duties to report concerns (England) This briefing paper sets out the current requirements on individuals and organisations regarding the reporting of known or suspected child abuse or neglect. It also provides information on the debate around whether a mandatory duty to report abuse or neglect should be introduced in England, and outlines the operation of such mandatory duties in other countries. House of Commons Library

Half of maternity units in England understaffed, RCM survey indicates

Half of maternity units in England understaffed, RCM survey indicates Half of maternity units in England are staffed below recommended levels, a Royal College of Midwives (RCM) survey* indicates.

The survey of directors and heads of midwifery forms part of the College’s submission of evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB). OnMedica

Repeat antibiotic use linked to higher risk of hospitalisation

Repeat antibiotic use linked to higher risk of hospitalisation Scientists have found a link between repeat antibiotic prescribing and a greater risk of hospitalisation.

The study, published today in BMC Medicine finds that patients who have had nine or more antibiotic prescriptions for common infections in the previous three years are 2.26 times more likely to go to hospital with another infection in three or more months. OnMedica

See also:

• The effectiveness of frequent antibiotic use in reducing the risk of infection-related hospital admissions: results from two large population-based cohorts (open access) BMC Medicine

Women in labour being refused epidurals, official inquiry finds

Women in labour being refused epidurals, official inquiry finds Exclusive: minister to remind NHS trusts to follow official guidance on pain relief during childbirth

Women in labour are being refused epidurals in breach of official guidelines, a government inquiry has found.

In findings seen by the Guardian, an investigation by the Department of Health and Social Care also found that women may not be being kept fully informed that if they choose to give birth at home or in a midwife-led unit they may have to be transferred if they want an epidural. Failing to make women aware of that possibility would also be in breach of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines.

Pali Hungin: ‘We can’t replace doctors with technology alone’

Pali Hungin: ‘We can’t replace doctors with technology alone’ In the face of AI and genomics, the head of a project looking at medics’ future says their role must adapt but will remain vital

Imagine a world where the doctors we see today no longer exist. This is what Professor Pali Hungin, who heads up the the Changing Face of Medicine (CFM) project, is grappling with as rapid societal and technological developments outpace traditional medical training. Gone are the days of passive patients with low expectations; 20 years ago, for example, few of us would have imagined that we would be seeking health advice from mobile phone devices. Meanwhile, technology, artificial intelligence, and other new sciences, such as genomics, are altering medicine fast. The Guardian

Calling overweight people fat or lazy must stop 'to fight against the obesity epidemic'

Calling overweight people fat or lazy must stop 'to fight against the obesity epidemic' A statement made by 100 health professionals, led by King's College London, said prejudice against overweight people can cause both physical and mental harm. The Daily Mail

NHS prescriptions price will rise AGAIN by 15p to £9.15 from April

NHS prescriptions price will rise AGAIN by 15p to £9.15 from April Patients in England will have to pay an extra 15p to collect their medicines from a pharmacy from April 1, according to the Department of Health and Social Care, led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: NHS prescription charges from 1 April 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Prescription charge to increase in April OnMedica

Delivering health and care for people who sleep rough: going above and beyond

Delivering health and care for people who sleep rough: going above and beyond The number of people sleeping rough in England has risen substantially over the past decade. People who are homeless have some of the worst health outcomes in England, and are more likely to experience and die from preventable and treatable medical conditions and to have multiple and complex health needs. Many people who sleep rough experience a combination of physical and mental ill health and drug or alcohol dependency. The King's Fund

See also:

• Rough sleeping and health: Dena Pursell's story The King's Fund
• Number of homeless people admitted to hospital surges 130% in five years The Incependent

National recruitment campaign for paramedics, radiographers and nurses begins

National recruitment campaign for paramedics, radiographers and nurses begins The campaign will help get 50,000 more nurses and 26,000 more primary care professionals working in the NHS in the next 5 years. Department of Health and Social Care

Unleashing the digital premium

Unleashing the digital premium Legrand Assisted Living & Health Care commissioned the Good Governance Institute to develop a national white paper exploring the digital premium in health, care and housing. The digital premium is defined as the benefit gained through proper implementation of digital technology to the individual, locality and system. Legrand Assisted Living & Health Care commissioned the GII to develop a national white paper exploring the digital premium in health, care and housing. The digital premium is defined as the benefit gained through proper implementation of digital technology to the individual, locality and system. Good Governance Institute

Race inequality in the workforce: exploring connections between work, ethnicity and mental health

Race inequality in the workforce: exploring connections between work, ethnicity and mental health This report, a joint initiative with Operation Black Vote and UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, presents new data from Next Steps, a longitudinal study of the ‘millennial generation’ in England. The work reveals persistent issues around the relationships between employment, ethnicity and mental health and underlines that there are enduring inequalities in the workplace between ethnic groups. The report presents recommendations for actions – for government, for mental health services and for employers. Carnegie UK Trust

The 2020 Budget: A 'decade of renewal' for health?

The 2020 Budget: A 'decade of renewal' for health? The Budget is the opportunity for the government to follow through on its promises to turn the page on austerity and begin a ‘decade of renewal’ across the country. For the health sector, such ‘renewal’ is badly needed, especially for the NHS estate. While revenue funding for the NHS has already been put in place until 2023-24, this alone is not enough to meet the ambitions of the Long Term Plan set out in January 2019. A year on, clarity on funding for the interdependent areas of social care and public health remain unresolved and a clear multi-year capital settlement for the NHS is still elusive. National Health Executive

Coronavirus: School closures and travel curbs in UK plans

Coronavirus: School closures and travel curbs in UK plans Plans to contain coronavirus if it spreads, involving possible school closures, cancelling events and bringing NHS staff out of retirement, are to be set out by the UK government.

Unnecessary travel could be curbed and people urged to work from home.

Legislation will be introduced to ensure ministers have the powers to prepare for a widespread outbreak. BBC News

See also:

• CMO for England announces 4 new cases of novel coronavirus Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS 111 Online To Help People With Coronavirus NHS England
• Coronavirus: Spread of virus in UK 'likely' says Boris Johnson BBC News
• Coronavirus: Do face masks work? And other questions answered BBC News
• Coronavirus: World in 'uncharted territory' BBC News
• 'How I survived coronavirus and isolation' BBC News
• Children with few symptoms could 'fuel the spread of coronavirus' The Daily Mail
• How does the coronavirus attack the human body? The Daily Mail
• Health worker at Hertfordshire cancer clinic is among 13 new coronavirus cases in UK The Daily Mail
• BMA warns against coronavirus 'complacency' as practices flag lack of PPE equipment GPonline
• Coronavirus: just eight out of 1,600 doctors in poll say NHS is ready The Guardian
• Coronavirus: three more cases in UK amid fears over strain on NHS The Guardian
• Any coronavirus 'lockdown' would initially be voluntary The Guardian
• Coronavirus: UK still 'months' from worst of outbreak, government experts admit The Independent
• Coronavirus: New European cases soar as China infections and deaths drop The Independent
• Less than 1% of doctors feel NHS is well prepared for coronavirus, poll shows The Independent
• EU warns coronavirus could cause 'huge economic and societal disruption' The Independent
• Coronavirus: Lack of sick pay and poor access to healthcare risks rapid spread of infections across US and UK, governments warned The Independent
• NHS to invest £1.7m in helpline to tackle coronavirus call surge ITV News

Women with endometriosis 'finally being believed'

Women with endometriosis 'finally being believed' A woman who had to change careers because of endometriosis has said an improvement in attitude towards women with the condition feels "incredible".

Endometriosis affects one in 10 UK women and can cause debilitating pain, very heavy periods and infertility.

MPs began an inquiry into the condition after BBC research, and will listen to the experiences of those living with it when hearings get under way later. BBC News

Faster access to cannabis medicines in UK

Faster access to cannabis medicines in UK Patients needing cannabis-based medicines should no longer face long delays in accessing their prescriptions, says the government.

Changes to importing restrictions mean UK companies can now order and hold more stocks from abroad.

That should make the treatments available to patients in days, rather than months. BBC News

I know you can recover from an eating disorder, but not in a system on its knees

I know you can recover from an eating disorder, but not in a system on its knees | Lorna Collins Although community-based treatment can improve outcomes, it must not be at the expense of vital inpatient services

No single treatment or approach works for every patient experiencing an eating disorder. I know from my own tortuous experiences, both with and without treatment, that it is extremely hard to get help, and there is too little money in the system to provide enough care.

But I also know it is possible to get help and to recover. Hope is crucial for those with eating disorders, as well as carers and health professionals. The aim of eating disorders awareness week, which runs from 2-8 March, is to break down stigma, help more people understand these disorders and bring hope about recovery. The Guardian

Health regulators seized 3.5million unlicensed erection pills last year

Health regulators seized 3.5million unlicensed erection pills last year Medical regulators seized 3.5million unlicensed erection pills worth more than £10million at UK borders last year.

Photos show thousands of packets of fake drugs piled high - and the blue diamond shaped pills look almost identical to the real deal.

Viagra has been available over the counter or from a registers online pharmacy without a prescription since 2017 for around £4 a dose. The Daily Mail

Simple blood test can swiftly detect Alzheimer's in people who visit their GP with worsening memory

Simple blood test can swiftly detect Alzheimer's in people who visit their GP with worsening memory A simple blood test can detect Alzheimer's disease early in people who visit their doctor with worsening memory.

Scientists in the US say the test could be used by practitioners within five years, and is more accurate and quicker than current methods.

The tool measures levels of a protein called tau in the blood, which is known to build-up in the brain and cause cell death. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Diagnostic value of plasma phosphorylated tau181 in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (abstract) Nature Medicine
• A blood test to identify Alzheimer's could be available on the NHS within five years iNews

Whistleblower NHS nurse was unfairly sacked over workload warning

Whistleblower NHS nurse was unfairly sacked over workload warning A nurse with a spotless 38-year record was unfairly sacked after warning that the crippling workload on NHS staff had led to a patient's death, a tribunal has ruled.

Linda Fairhall, an NHS nurse since 1979, claimed district nurses were being put under an unfair strain due to new duties placed upon them in 2013. The Daily Mail

Air pollution is reducing global life expectancy by three years, scientists find

Air pollution is reducing global life expectancy by three years, scientists find Air pollution is reducing global life expectancy by three years, killing 8.8million people a year, a study shows.

More people are dying early from breathing toxic air than some of the largest killers, including malaria, HIV, war and smoking.

Scientists led by Germany fear the world is facing an air pollution 'pandemic' after analysing deaths in every country. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Loss of life expectancy from air pollution compared to other risk factors: a worldwide perspective (open access) Cardiovascular Research

Is it time for a new National Beds Inquiry, or a national policy decision?

Is it time for a new National Beds Inquiry, or a national policy decision? Travel back in time with me. It’s February 2000. There is a growing sense that reductions in hospital bed numbers have gone too far. The demand for health care is growing and waiting lists are on the rise. NHS services are changing too. There is a new hospital building programme. And technology is changing how services are delivered, with NHS Direct handling more health inquiries over the phone and internet (and a dedicated interactive channel on TV…). The King's Fund

Prison health: what happens inside and outside the walls?

Prison health: what happens inside and outside the walls? Does living in prison lead to worse health? And how could prisons be an opportunity to address serious health inequalities? Anna Charles explores the health and wellbeing of people living in prison, their access to health and care services, and what happens on release. The King's Fund

Coronavirus: PM to chair Cobra committee meeting as UK virus reach 36

Coronavirus: PM to chair Cobra committee meeting as UK virus reach 36 Widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is now "highly likely", Public Health England (PHE) has said.

Director for Health Protection Paul Cosford said the country must be prepared.

The prime minister will chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later, after the number of UK coronavirus cases jumped to 36.

Senior ministers and health advisers will be told that the virus will present a "significant challenge". BBC News

See also:

• CMO for England announces 12 new cases of novel coronavirus: 01 March 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Health Secretary sets out government “battle plan” for COVID-19 Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• New NHS Staff Council guidance: Covid-19 NHS Employers
• Coronavirus: PM to chair Cobra committee meeting as UK virus reach 36 BBC News
• Coronavirus: Isolating cities in UK 'not ruled out' BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Battleplan' role for retired doctors BBC News
• 'I've been waiting four days for NHS 111 to call' BBC News
• What are the chances of dying from coronavirus? BBC News
• Boris Johnson hails frontline NHS staff UK's 'greatest asset' in face of coronavirus outbreak The Daily Mail
• WHO raises global coronavirus threat level to 'very high' The Daily Mail
• There is nothing irrational about the coronavirus panic – it will change the world as we know it The Daily Telegraph
• GPs told to display coronavirus posters and identify patient isolation space GPonline
• Is Britain prepared for a possible pandemic? The signs aren’t all that good… | Mark Honigsbaum The Guardian
• NHS plans to deploy ‘Dad’s Army’ of retired doctors if Covid-19 spreads The Guardian
• Coronavirus outbreak would bring 'immense stress' to NHS, medics warn iNews
• Coronavirus isolation pods to be installed at every NHS A&E unit Metro

Huntington's disease: Woman with gene fails in bid to sue NHS

Huntington's disease: Woman with gene fails in bid to sue NHS A woman who claimed she would have had an abortion if she had known her father had a fatal, inherited brain condition has failed in her bid to sue the NHS.

She claimed three NHS Trusts owed her a duty of care to tell her about her father's Huntington's disease.

Any child of someone with the condition has a 50% chance of inheriting it. BBC News

Older women are needlessly going blind. Why isn’t it a national scandal?

Older women are needlessly going blind. Why isn’t it a national scandal? | Dorothy Byrn e GPs regularly fail to diagnose giant cell arteritis, a disease that causes blindness in hundreds of women every year

Fifty years ago I witnessed how the NHS discriminates against older women. More recently, I have experienced it myself as part of what should be a national scandal – but it isn’t because it happens mainly to old women, so it’s tucked away on the health pages of newspapers or on specialist programmes.

When I was a teenager, I volunteered with friends to visit patients at my local hospital, the Victoria in Blackpool. We were sent to the female orthopaedic ward. It was a miserable place. The women just lay there; I never witnessed anyone receiving physiotherapy or any other form of therapy. It was the sort of place you would never wish to end up. The Guardian

Families divided as Tavistock gender clinic court review goes ahead

Families divided as Tavistock gender clinic court review goes ahead Documents warn children that long-term effects of puberty blockers are unknown

Children considering gender reassignment on the NHS are warned that puberty blockers carry risks and that their long-term effects are unknown, according to documents filed in a landmark case examining how the drugs are prescribed.

In January, the Observer reported that lawyers had filed papers in the high court as they prepared a judicial review against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the UK’s only NHS Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), and NHS England. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS gender clinic 'should have challenged me more' over transition BBC News

Children's Commissioner says creating Northamptonshire children's trust will be 'messy and complicated'

Children's Commissioner says creating Northamptonshire children's trust will be 'messy and complicated' Creating Northamptonshire’s children’s trust will be ‘messy and complicated’ according to the government -appointed commissioner sent in to make improvements.

In a frank discussion with Northamptonshire County Council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday (Feb 26) Andrew Christie laid bare the risks of moving the inadequate children’s service into a new trust at the same time as shutting down the county council and creating two new unitary authorities. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Coroner 'concerned' about A&E overcrowding deaths

Coroner 'concerned' about A&E overcrowding deaths A coroner has raised concerns about deaths in A&E after an 85-year-old died at an "overcrowded" hospital.

There were "several lapses and omissions" in the way Mohan Acharya was monitored at Northampton General Hospital, an inquest heard.

Hassan Shah said even though these did not contribute to his death, he would be writing to the government with a prevention of future deaths report.

The hospital trust said it accepted the coroner's conclusion. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Coroner orders report to shine spotlight on Northampton's overcrowded A&E's after inquest 85-year-old man's death Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Successes and shortcomings: health policy lessons

Successes and shortcomings: health policy lessons With Nigel Edwards’s speech at this year’s Nuffield Trust Summit looking back at lessons from 40 years of health policy, here he runs through some policy highlights and failures over that time – and argues how we can do better in future.

Social care can’t cope alone with the cost of the living wage

Social care can’t cope alone with the cost of the living wage The cost to local authorities of commissioning social care is heavily affected by the rate of careworker pay. The impending 6.2 per cent rise in the national living wage is richly deserved by care staff but, along with rising demand for services and workforce shortages, may be more than the sector can bear. The King's Fund

Nurse numbers increase by 8,570 in the past year

Nurse numbers increase by 8,570 in the past year The number of nurses has gone up as the government works to increase nursing numbers in the NHS by 50,000 in the next 5 years. Department of Health and Social Care

Specialised services: transforming delivery for patients

Specialised services: transforming delivery for patients This report shows how NHS specialised services are adapting to a changing environment to deliver world class and innovative care for patients and service users. It shares the opinions of leaders from trusts and the wider health and care sector on key issues and looks at the key role specialised services play in delivering the ambitions of the long term plan. NHS Providers

Primary Care Networks: briefing paper for VCSE sector organisations

Primary Care Networks: briefing paper for VCSE sector organisations This briefing paper explains a new way in which health and care services are being organised locally across England and explores how VCSE organisations might supply knowledge, expertise and training to help PCNs develop. The authors argue that this could be vital in making sure PCNs become more closely engaged with their local communities. National Voices

Coronavirus: First Welsh case among three new UK diagnoses

Coronavirus: First Welsh case among three new UK diagnoses Three more cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK, including the first one in Wales.

Two new patients in England contracted the virus while in Iran, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

Public Health Wales said it was working to identify close contacts of the Welsh patient, who is from the Swansea area and was infected in northern Italy before returning to the UK.

The new cases bring the total number in the UK to 19. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: self-isolation for patients undergoing testing Public Health England
• College urges patients not to contact their GP for Covid-19 holiday cancellation letters Royal College of General Practitioners
• Coronavirus: Where are we with a vaccine? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Watch how germs spread BBC News
• How would the UK tackle a coronavirus outbreak? BBC News
• WHO director says countries must 'act aggressively now to contain coronavirus' The Daily Mail
• NHS would sacrifice most vulnerable patients' critical care during coronavirus surge, medics admit The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus suspect was wrongly told to go to hospital where he sat in a packed waiting room The Daily Mail
• The NHS is woefully ill-equipped for coronavirus - but there is hope The Daily Telegraph
• What is coronavirus, how did it start and could the outbreak grow bigger? The Daily Telegraph
• 'They have no idea': government failing on coronavirus, say GPs The Guardian
• Coronavirus: England only has 15 beds for worst respiratory cases The Guardian
• Coronavirus spreads around the world – in pictures The Guardian
• Coronavirus in the UK: Outbreak poses shutdown threat to Britain, with festivals banned and schools closed for months iNews
• Coronavirus spread triggers historic stock market plunge across globe as recession fears grow The Independent
• Coronavirus: Football games and concerts could be banned for two months if pandemic hits UK, says chief medic The Independent
• NHS announces wider surveillance testing for COVID-19 OnMedica

Thousands of depression cases 'linked to universal credit'

Thousands of depression cases 'linked to universal credit' A study has linked a spike in mental-health problems among the unemployed with the rollout of universal credit and other government welfare changes.

The number of unemployed people with psychological distress rose 6.6% between 2013 and 2018, it suggests.

And this represents an extra 63,674 people in England, Wales and Scotland - 21,760 of whom became clinically depressed over the period.

The government highlighted the study found no causal link. BBC News

See also:

• Effects on mental health of a UK welfare reform, Universal Credit: a longitudinal controlled study (open access) Lancet Public Health

Heather Planner died after being given other patient's medicine

Heather Planner died after being given other patient's medicine An 87-year-old woman died after her carers gave her the wrong medication, a coroner was told.

Heather Planner, from Butler's Cross in Buckinghamshire, died at Wycombe Hospital on 1 April from a stroke.

Senior coroner Crispin Butler heard three staff from Carewatch Mid Bucks had failed to spot tablets handed over by the pharmacy were for a male patient. BBC News

Boy, nine, wins £17million NHS payout after he was left brain damaged

Boy, nine, wins £17million NHS payout after he was left brain damaged A nine-year-old boy has won a £17 million payout from the NHS after medics left him brain damaged by failing to ensure he got the proper nutrition when he was born.

The child's blood sugar levels fell dangerously low after his birth at Hertfordshire's Lister Hospital, and now needs 24-hour care and cannot do anything for himself.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffers from body-wide cerebral palsy, severe visual impairment and epileptic seizures which sometimes strike more than once a day. The Daily Mail

Healthcare watchdog personally steps in to end 'risk of continuing harm' to young people at Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital

Healthcare watchdog personally steps in to end 'risk of continuing harm' to young people at Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital After three years of failures, the CQC has put Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital on its last warning.

Young patients being "dragged" on the floor, "a risk continuing harm" and incidents of bullying being passed off as "a bit of fun".

This is what the healthcare watchdog found in its latest inspection of how children and young people are being cared for at Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital Fitzroy House - leading them to put the site on its very last warning. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Man, 85, 'died after nine-hour A&E wait'

Man, 85, 'died after nine-hour A&E wait' An 85-year-old man died after a nine-hour wait in A&E and "several lapses and omissions" in the way he was monitored, an inquest has heard.

Mohan Acharya died from pneumonia and acute renal failure at Northampton General Hospital on 8 March 2018.

Emergency medicine consultant Dr Mike Pearce said the hospital "should have done more observations".

But he added the failings were "unlikely to have directly contributed" to Mr Acharya's death. BBC Northampton

See also:

• 'Dangerous overcrowding' was not major factor in death of 85-year-old who died in Northampton's A&E, inquest hears Northampton Chronicle and Echo

UK strategy for rare diseases: 2020 update to the implementation plan for England

UK strategy for rare diseases: 2020 update to the implementation plan for England A summary of the strategy's progress and actions for the government and partner organisations for 2020. Department of Health and Social Care

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2017/18 update

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2017/18 update This report updates the Centre for Health Economics’ time-series of NHS productivity growth for the period 2016/17 to 2017/18. Between 2016/17 and 2017/18, NHS productivity grew by 1.26 per cent when using the mixed measure of NHS input growth, which includes a direct (volume) growth measure for NHS staff and an indirect (based on expenditure data) growth measure for materials and capital. The report also considers a range of alternative scenarios including using a fully indirect measure of growth inputs. Centre for Health Economics