Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital discharge service requirements

Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital discharge service requirements Sets out how health and care systems and providers should change their discharging arrangements and the provision of community support during the coronavirus situation. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Testing capacity increases as second Lighthouse Lab becomes fully operational Department of Health and Social Care
• PHE response to a Sun newspaper column Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for care of the deceased Public Health England
• Strengthening hospital capacity for the Covid-19 pandemic Imperial College London
• College Chair Martin Marshall updates members on supplies and use of PPE in general practice Royal College of General Practitioners

Coronavirus: Record number of deaths recorded

Coronavirus: Record number of deaths recorded Deaths in England and Wales have risen sharply above what would be expected, hitting a 20-year high.

The Office for National Statistics said there were 18,500 deaths in the week up to 10 April - around 10,000 more than is normal at this time of year.

More than 6,200 were linked to coronavirus, a sixth of which were outside of hospital.

But deaths from other causes also increased, suggesting the lockdown may be having an indirect impact on health. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Masks for public 'could put NHS supplies at risk' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Dentists facing 'critical shortage of kit' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Why are there doubts over contact-tracing apps? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Minute silence in memory of NHS staff BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Death toll hits 16,510 with 450 new fatalities The Daily Mail
• Up to 30% of coronavirus patients hardly develop ANY antibodies The Daily Mail
• Daily coronavirus tests are 80,000 short of the target promised by Health Secretary Matt Hancock The Daily Mail
• Donald Trump to suspend all immigration to US to fight 'invisible enemy' The Daily Telegraph
• NHS will be priority in decision on face masks for public, says minister The Guardian
• PPE shortages app receives hundreds of reports in first fortnight The Guardian
• At least 100 UK healthcare workers have died from coronavirus, figures show The Guardian
• NHS told to expect 'huge number' of legal challenges after pandemic Health Service Journal
• Coronavirus disproportionately affecting Bame communities in UK, new figures show The Independent
• Coronavirus: Medics shouldn’t work without safe PPE, doctors told as fears grow UK pandemic stockpile is almost empty The Independent
• One third of deaths in England and Wales now coronavirus-related The Independent
• Coronavirus: Boots ready to ramp up NHS testing centres Sky News

More than 150 now dead as Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death tolls keeps rising

More than 150 now dead as Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death tolls keeps rising The number of Covid-19 victims in Northamptonshire passed another grim milestone with more than 150 now dead in the county.

Seven more victims between Easter Sunday and Wednesday (April 15) means frontline staff Northampton General Hospital have now seen 93 patients die since the outbreak began last month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Psychiatric hospitals in Northampton report six deaths between them since outbreak of coronavirus Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northants GPs face challenge of switching to phone and video appointments
• Number of confirmed Covid-19 deaths at Northampton General Hospital rises to 106 Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Meet the seven-year-old Northampton girl who is doing everything she can to raise money for the NHS Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering furniture store staff create hundreds of wash bags for the NHS Northamptonshire Telegraph
• No additional Covid-19 deaths registered at Kettering General Hospital in last 24 hours Northamptonshire Telegraph

Capitalising on the offer of help – volunteering in the Covid-19 crisis

Capitalising on the offer of help – volunteering in the Covid-19 crisis As we enter the fourth week of ‘lockdown’, it’s hard to comprehend the unprecedented changes happening in health and care. The weekly ‘clap for care’ is now a feature in most of our communities, reflecting the public’s appreciation of the huge sacrifice that staff are making. But equally notable is the number of people in those communities who have volunteered support to those around them and to organisations providing that care. The King's Fund

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions within hospitals and discharging COVID-19 patients from hospital to home settings

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions within hospitals and discharging COVID-19 patients from hospital to home settings This guidance provides advice on appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions for patients recovering or recovered from COVID-19 and remaining in hospital, or being discharged to their own home or residential care. Public Health England

See also:

• Guidance: Mental Health Act: exercise of approval instructions 2015 Department of Health and Social Care
• Press release: National testing coordinator warns against unapproved antibody tests Department of Health and Social Care
• Press release: Government launches Vaccine Taskforce to combat coronavirus
• Press release: Olympics chief brought in to boost PPE production Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for managing a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC) Public Health England
• Promises that cannot be delivered just make difficult situation worse NHS Confederation
• Extra funding for councils as important as the money for the health service NHS Confederation
• NHS Nightingale London discharges first patients NHS England
• Extra support for occupational health services NHS Employers

Coronavirus: 'Possible to be infected with Covid-19 more than once'

Coronavirus: 'Possible to be infected with Covid-19 more than once' Scientists working on a coronavirus vaccine in Britain hope to start clinical trials towards the end of next week.

The leader of a team working on a vaccine, Professor Sarah Gilbert, from Oxford University said scientists believed it was possible to become infected with Covid-19 more than once.

She added that a vaccine-induced immunity could last longer than the infected-induced immunity. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus cases to be tracked by ethnicity BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Critical' to get protective kit to front line - NHS medical director BBC News
• Coronavirus: Plasma treatment to be trialled BBC News
• Coronavirus: Care home deaths in a week 'double previous month' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Hay-fever symptoms could mimic Covid-19, GPs warn BBC News
• Coronavirus: Personal protective equipment delivery to UK from Turkey delayed BBC News
• Whistleblower nurse says 80 per cent of NHS staff on one hospital ward have caught coronavirus due to lack of PPE protective gear The Daily Mail
• Being overweight puts people at greater risk of being hospitalised with coronavirus The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Lockdown extended for three more weeks The Daily Mail
• Exclusive: NHS rationing oxygen with doctors instructed to downgrade blood saturation targets The Daily Telegraph
• The care home front line, where a band of workers risk their own health to comfort dying patients The Daily Telegraph
• No evidence that people who have survived coronavirus have immunity, says World Health Organisation The Daily Telegraph
• Hospital leaders hit out at government as PPE shortage row escalates The Guardian
• Only one in four GP appointments now conducted in person The Guardian
• Scientists raise concerns about quality of UK Covid-19 tests The Guardian
• Michael Gove confirms PM missed five coronavirus Cobra meetings The Guardian
• Government under fire for failing to act on pandemic recommendations The Guardian
• NHS frontline staff may refuse to work over lack of PPE, says union The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson criticised after ‘missing five Cobra meetings’ at start of pandemic The Independent
• Coronavirus: Thousands more care home deaths than official figures show, data suggests The Independent
• Women struggling to access usual contraception as coronavirus plunges sexual health services into chaos The Independent
• Coronavirus: NHS appeals for blood plasma from survivors for trial to help new COVID-19 patients Sky News

Number of Northampton hospital's Covid-19 victims set to hit 100 over the weekend

Number of Northampton hospital's Covid-19 victims set to hit 100 over the weekend The number of Covid-19 victims at Northampton General Hospital is set to top 100 over the weekend.

Latest official numbers released today (Thursday April 16) revealed frontline NHS staff had seen another 13 coronavirus-related deaths at the Cliftonville site between April 8 and 14. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Police make lockdown girl's 'best birthday' BBC Northampton
• Northamptonshire's care home workers set for coronavirus testing Daventry Express
• Hospital bosses puzzled by claims of PPE shortage among frontline staff at Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Wellingborough caterers donate hundreds of meals to KGH and NGH Northamptonshire Telegraph

COVID-19 mental health campaign launches

COVID-19 mental health campaign launches The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge support new Every Mind Matters advice for looking after mental wellbeing. Public Health England

See also:

• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: UKAP statement on health clearance and monitoring Public Health England
• New ‘Looking out for each other’ campaign Public Health England
• Survey results: understanding people’s concerns about the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic Academy of Medical Sciences

Coronavirus: Some social distancing needed 'until vaccine found'

Coronavirus: Some social distancing needed 'until vaccine found' The UK must keep a "significant level" of social distancing until a vaccine for coronavirus is found, a scientist advising the government has said.

Prof Neil Ferguson told the BBC there was "little leeway" to relax measures without "something... in their place" - such as testing and contact tracing.

A three-week extension to the lockdown is expected to be announced later.

It comes as the UK recorded another 861 coronavirus deaths, taking the total number of hospital deaths to 13,729. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: 9 in 10 dying have existing illness, ONS data shows BBC News
• Coronavirus lockdown: Lessons from Hokkaido's second wave of infections BBC News
• NHS boss: 'I need gowns, can I call Burberry?' BBC News
• Coronavirus hospitals: Leading a team of 500 during a pandemic BBC News
• Coronavirus: NHS contact tracing app to target 80% of smartphone users BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: NHS to probe 'disproportionate' BAME deaths The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Death toll hits 13,729 with 861 new deaths The Daily Mail
• Doctors vulnerable to legal challenge during COVID-19 pandemic, experts warn GPonline
• Refugees among hundreds of overseas medics to respond to NHS call The Guardian
• Government 'ignores' UK textiles firms desperate to make PPE The Guardian
• Doctors, nurses, porters, volunteers: the UK health workers who have died from Covid-19 The Guardian
• Social care 'an afterthought' in UK coronavirus response, says leaked letter The Guardian
• Healthcare workers 'should be screened for Covid-19 every week' The Guardian
• Less than half UK's Covid-19 testing capacity being used, figures show The Guardian
• Coronavirus: UK statistics on cases, tests and deaths, day-by-day The Independent
• Coronavirus: Britain applauds its NHS heroes Sky News

Ten more Covid-19 victims at Northampton General Hospital takes to county toll to 127

Ten more Covid-19 victims at Northampton General Hospital takes to county toll to 127 Ten more people have been added to the grim list of Covid-19 victims at Northampton General Hospital.

Today's NHS announcement took the sad total to 127 deaths at Northamptonshire's two acute hospitals.

These latest figures are for fatalities recorded between April 8 and April 13, all having tested positive for coronavirus. Delays in reporting over Easter have means they have only just been added to the official numbers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Moulton College donates protective equipment and hand sanitiser to Marie Curie and NHS Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• University of Northampton extends closure until end of May Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton lab volunteers to test county's GP staff for Covid-19 "at least once a week" Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Wellingborough care home's urgent appeal for PPE Northamptonshire Telegraph

Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested

Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested Guidance on coronavirus testing for critical workers who are self-isolating. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Government to offer testing for “everyone who needs one” in social care settings Department of Health and Social Care
• Press release: National action plan to further support adult social care sector Department of Health and Social Care
• Policy paper: Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult social care action plan Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: prisons (England and Wales) House of Commons Library
• NHS ESR COVID-19 resource hub NHS Employers
• The psychological needs of healthcare staff as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic British Psychological Society
• Supporting older people and people living with dementia during self-isolation British Psychological Society
• The ICO’s regulatory approach during the coronavirus public health emergency Information Commissioner's Office
• Mortality associated with Covid-19 outbreaks in care homes: early international evidence International Long Term Policy Network
• Life under lockdown: coronavirus in the UK King's College London
• Patients should use the NHS wisely - but not put off seeking medical help for serious health concerns unrelated to COVID-19, says College Royal College of General Practitioners
• RPS guidance on ethical, professional decision making in the Covid-19 pandemic Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Coronavirus: We can cope with peak, hospital bosses say

Coronavirus: We can cope with peak, hospital bosses say Hospitals should be able to cope with an expected peak in coronavirus cases, according to NHS bosses.

NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and other NHS trusts in England, said there were enough beds in hospitals for patients.

The hard work to increase intensive-care capacity and free up space on general wards had paid off.

But coping with significant numbers of coronavirus patients in the long-term remained a concern.

Chief executive Chris Hopson said it looked "increasingly likely" the NHS would successfully navigate the peak. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Some social distancing needed 'until vaccine found' BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Profound' mental health impact prompts calls for urgent research BBC News
• Coronavirus: Should I wear a mask to stop the virus? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Hospitals and care homes to allow goodbyes to dying BBC News
• Coronavirus: How big is the problem in care homes? BBC News
• Matt Hancock ridiculed for say carers will get a 'special badge' for their efforts The Daily Mail
• Anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine does NOT speed up coronavirus recovery, Chinese study finds The Daily Mail
• UK is still testing less than 15,000 people for coronavirus each day The Daily Mail
• Government's handling of care homes in lockdown is 'shambolic' The Daily Mail
• Fact check: Trump’s WHO charge sheet and how it stacks up The Daily Telegraph
• Watch: Piers Morgan in heated exchange over 'laughing' Minister during care home crisis interview The Daily Telegraph
• 'It's heartbreaking. People dying at home, help denied them' The Guardian
• Coronavirus ventilator wins UK approval in run-up to NHS rollout The Guardian
• Matt Hancock's record on NHS coronavirus provision The Guardian
• PPE could be reused as last resort, says leaked PHE document The Guardian
• Boris Johnson reacted too slowly to Covid-19, says former scientific adviser The Guardian
• Care homes in England say coronavirus death toll has risen to 1,400 The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Government has failed to protect us against Covid-19, health workers say The Independent
• World will face a mental health crisis after coronavirus pandemic, experts warn The Independent
• Coronavirus: Pregnant NHS nurse dies from Covid-19 but baby saved The Independent
• Coronavirus PPE 'inadequate', says NHS frontline worker ITV News

Letters, personal belonging drop-offs and a helpline: The additional ways NGH is helping patients during pandemic

Letters, personal belonging drop-offs and a helpline: The additional ways NGH is helping patients during pandemic A number of services have been launched at Northampton General Hospital to help patients and their loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.

While visiting is generally prohibited, with only a few exceptions, the hospital is working hard to make sure patients can still hear from their loved ones. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Four Stanwick care home residents die with virus BBC Northampton
• Coronavirus deaths in the Anglia region up by more than 100 to 1270 ITV News
• Northamptonshire's community and mental health heroes say a big "THANK YOU" for your support Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton hospital's Covid-19 death toll climbs past 60 with 113 victims across the county Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Fears over more Covid-19 deaths in care homes as 16 new fatalities are recorded in Northamptonshire hospitals Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Number of patients going to A&E at Northampton General Hospital drops by nearly 2500 in March Northampton Chronicle and Echo

£107m of debt at Northampton General Hospital written off by government

£107m of debt at Northampton General Hospital written off by government From the start of this month, almost £3.5 billion of NHS debt from 23 trusts across the Midlands will be scrapped, as announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week.

And yesterday (April 9) it was revealed that Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust’s level of debt to be written off amounts to almost £108 million. This includes revenue debt of £97.78 million and capital debt of £10.18 million. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• KGH has £167m debt written off Northamptonshire Telegraph

Covid-19 rapid guideline: managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community

Covid-19 rapid guideline: managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community The purpose of this guideline is to provide recommendations for managing Covid‑19 symptoms for patients in the community, including at the end of life. It also includes recommendations about managing medicines for these patients, and protecting staff from infection. NICE

See also:

• Covid-19 rapid guideline: managing suspected or confirmed pneumonia in adults in the community NICE

Policy paper: Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan

Policy paper: Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan Cross-government UK-wide plan to ensure that critical personal protective equipment (PPE) is delivered to those on the frontline responding to coronavirus (COVID-19). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Press release: Government sets out plan for national effort on PPE Department of Health and Social Care
• Health Secretary launches biggest diagnostic lab network in British history to test for coronavirus Department of Health and Social Care
• Student docs and nurses praised for joining ‘NHS Army’ to tackle historic coronavirus threat NHS England
• Thousands of former NHS staff are back on the front line in the NHS fight against coronavirus NHS England
• Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 3 April 2020
• Covid-19: management of exposed healthcare workers and patients in hospital settings Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: track coronavirus cases Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC) Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: personal protective equipment use for aerosol generating procedures Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection Public Health England
• Risk of 'serious consequences' if non-COVID conditions unmanaged or untreated, warns College Royal College of General Practitioners

Coronavirus: More tests promised for care homes

Coronavirus: More tests promised for care homes All care home residents and staff with Covid-19 symptoms will be tested for coronavirus as laboratory capacity increases, the government has promised.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "determined" to ensure everyone who needed a test had access to one.

Labour welcomed the pledge but said the social care sector needed more support.

Care providers have been calling for more testing for weeks, with charities saying the virus is "running wild" amid outbreaks at more than 2,000 homes. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Virus causes jump in total number of deaths BBC News
• Coronavirus: Nurse's PPE 'like soldier without combat gear' BBC News
• UK Biobank: DNA to unlock coronavirus secrets BBC News
• 'Difficult' cancer care decisions taken due to coronavirus BBC News
• Coronavirus: Baroness Altmann says health system is 'stacked against' care homes BBC News
• Coronavirus: Scientists to review impact of lockdown measures BBC News
• Coronavirus: Body-bag stocks 'in danger of running out' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Gown supply 'critically low' in some hospitals BBC News
• Covid-19 Deaths in England Are 15% Higher Than NHS Reports Bloomberg
• Why is it so hard to make a reliable coronavirus antibody test? The Daily Mail
• Boss of Britain's largest care operator claims TWO THIRDS of homes have had coronavirus The Daily Mail
• UK's coronavirus death toll could be 15% higher than official figures show The Daily Mail
• One THIRD of NHS workers tested for coronavirus are positive The Daily Mail
• Patients with severe COPD should have advanced care plans, says NICE COVID-19 advice GPonline
• NHS hospitals accused of risking staff lives by abandoning PPE fit-tests The Guardian
• How close is the NHS to getting the 18,000 ventilators it needs? The Guardian
• 'I feel fear and guilt': an NHS junior doctor on the effect of getting Covid-19 The Guardian
• England coronavirus testing has not risen fast enough - science chief The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Thousands of virus deaths may be being under-reported, warn experts The Independent
• Coronavirus: Doctors call for suspension of NHS charging regulations as vulnerable groups ‘effectively denied’ healthcare The Independent

NHS reveals seven Covid-19 deaths in one day at Northampton General Hospital

NHS reveals seven Covid-19 deaths in one day at Northampton General Hospital - Northampton NHS officials have revealed seven people died of Covid-19 in one day at Northampton General Hospital.

Four more deaths at the hospital were confirmed yesterday, taking the total to 45 countywide as at 5pm on Monday evening. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Hospital deaths of patients with coronavirus in the Anglia region rise to 687 ITV News
• Two more coronavirus deaths confirmed at KGH Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Building supplier donates 13800 protective masks to Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Here's how to get in touch with Northampton General is you want to make a donation in fight against Covid-19 Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Birthday bop for Wellingborough community hospital healthcare workers on NHS frontline Northamptonshire Telegraph

Leading through and beyond Covid-19: what challenges are leaders facing?

Leading through and beyond Covid-19: what challenges are leaders facing? The health and care system in the UK is facing a challenge the like of which has not been seen in living memory. It is a crisis that has rewritten the rules: who cannot be amazed, whether it’s by the sight of our empty cities or the NHS and the army turning the ExCeL centre into a giant critical care unit. The pace has been dramatic and unrelenting. The King's Fund

See also:

• How has general practice responded to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak? The King's Fund

NHS launches mental health hotline for staff tackling COVID-19

NHS launches mental health hotline for staff tackling COVID-19 The NHS has launched a mental health hotline as part of a package of measures to support the NHS’ 1.4 million staff as they help people deal with the coronavirus.

NHS staff will be able to call or text a free number staffed by thousands of specially trained volunteers, to receive support and advice for the pressures they face every day during the global health emergency.

The volunteers will listen to NHS staff and give psychological support to those in need. NHS England

See also:

• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital discharge service requirements 
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing unpaid care Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: health and social care key issues and sources House of Commons Library
• Coronavirus: access to adult social care in England House of Commons Library
• Age-friendly health systems design to address Covid-19 Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• Coronavirus (Covid-19): health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
• Deploying nursing students to support COVID-19 response NHS Employers
• Guidance: COVID-19: background information Public Health England

Coronavirus: Will summer make a difference?

Coronavirus: Will summer make a difference?  The idea warmer weather might stop the coronavirus seems to have faded as the virus has spread around the globe. But could new research contain a glimmer of hope?

It's too early to know for sure whether the new coronavirus is seasonal. To really know that, we'd have to watch how cases change in one place across the year.

But we can look at its spread in different climates across the world for clues. BBC News

See also:

• Are minorities being hit hardest by coronavirus? BBC News
• Coronavirus: WHO chief urges end to 'politicisation' of virus BBC News
• Coronavirus pressures 'put organ transplants at risk' BBC News
• Coronavirus: What is the risk to men over 50? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Oxford junior doctors keep video diaries BBC News
• Coronavirus: Covid-19 detecting apps run into privacy issues BBC News
• Dentists warn patients are being left in agony amid coronavirus pandemic The Daily Mail
• CDC pulls confusing dosing guidance for malaria drug that Trump praised for treating coronavirus The Daily Mail
• Exclusive: Three nurses forced to wear bin bags because of PPE shortage test positive for coronavirus The Daily Telegraph
• GP workforce hit hard by COVID-19 self-isolation, BMA poll reveals GPonline
• How coronavirus changed the world in three months – video The Guardian
• UK Covid-19 antibody tests not ready until May at earliest The Guardian
• UK's coronavirus death toll: how does it compare with Spain and Italy? The Guardian
• 'Do not resuscitate' orders have caused panic in the UK. Here is the truth | Rachel Clarke The Guardian
• UK must learn from German response to Covid-19, says Whitty The Guardian
• The truth about do not resuscitate orders The Independent
• Coronavirus: UK death toll in hospitals alone rises by 938 in one day The Independent
• NHS Heroes: Teamwork helping NHS workers through Covid-19 crisis amid heartbreak ITV News

Northamptonshire hospitals battling biggest daily surge yet in Covid-19 cases

Northamptonshire hospitals battling biggest daily surge yet in Covid-19 cases Northamptonshire's two NHS hospitals are dealing with the biggest surge in Covid-19 cases yet as the pandemic continues to spread through the county.

Public Health England revealed 85 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a 24-hour period up to 9am yesterday (Monday April 6). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus deaths reach 500 in hospitals in the Anglia region ITV News
• Volunteers are sewing scrubs for Northamptonshire's NHS heroes - here's how you can help them Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Graphs show people in Northamptonshire are listening to the coronavirus lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Thanks Northants' after another weekend with no lockdown fines for flouting Covid-19 restrictions Northamptonshire Telegraph

Integrating health and social care in the Covid-19 (coronavirus) response

Integrating health and social care in the Covid-19 (coronavirus) response ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ was how Charles Dickens described, in the opening lines of A tale of two cities, the contrasting state of London and Paris in the years before the French Revolution. Although the full impact of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has yet to be felt, his words have a contemporary resonance, considering how the daily rhythms and routines of our lives have been turned upside down in a matter of days. The King's Fund

Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK

Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk level in the UK. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to pharmacists from Jo Churchill Department of Health and Social Care
• Admission and care of residents during Covid-19: incident in a care home Department of Health and Social Care
• Report on 2249 patients critically ill with COVID-19 Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre
• Saving babies' lives: Covid-19 information NHS England
• Guidance: COVID-19: investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for residential care, supported living and home care Public Health England

Coronavirus: Warning over daily death figures

Coronavirus: Warning over daily death figures Experts are warning against over-interpreting daily figures of people dying with the Covid-19 virus, since they often reflect reporting delays.

Spikes or dips may in part reflect bottlenecks in the reporting system, rather than real changes in the trend.

On Monday, 439 coronavirus deaths were recorded in the UK - down from 621 on Sunday and 708 on Saturday.

Many hospitals will not report deaths that happened over the weekend until the middle of the following week. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson spends night in intensive care after symptoms worsen BBC News
• Coronavirus: China reports no Covid-19 deaths for first time BBC News
• Coronavirus: Thousands missed off government's 'high risk' list BBC News
• Coronavirus: Why healthcare workers are at risk of moral injury BBC News
• Coronavirus: Too early to consider lockdown exit strategy, says Raab BBC News
• Coronavirus: Scientists question school closures impact BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: The oxygen supply problem BBC News
• NHS data shows 66% of coronavirus patients hooked up to ventilators will die The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson's doctor acted after Zoom video The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: NHS study suggests race may affect risk level The Daily Mail
• NHS A&E visits plummet by HALF in March as 'people fear they will catch coronavirus in hospitals' The Daily Mail
• Will the UK go into full lockdown and could outdoor exercise be banned? The Daily Telegraph
• These are the NHS workers who have died from coronavirus The Daily Telegraph
• GPs fear missing vital COVID-19 advice as data avalanche swamps NHSmail GPonline
• NHS doctors lacking PPE 'bullied' into treating Covid-19 patients The Guardian
• Fears that Britons self-isolating with Covid-19 may seek help too late The Guardian
• Why the UK lacks an adequate testing system The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Doctors and nurses will need PTSD treatment after Covid-19 virus peaks in hospitals, warn health leaders The Independent
• NHS staff given conflicting advice over resuscitation of coronavirus patients The Independent
• 'It is scary': Inside the 'red zone' intensive care unit where NHS staff and patients are battling coronavirus ITV News
• Why are frontline workers not being tested by GPs and employers? NHS chief answers ITV viewers' Covid-19 questions ITV News

Sunday brings news of five more Covid-19 deaths at Kettering General Hospital

Sunday brings news of five more Covid-19 deaths at Kettering General Hospital The grim death tally of coronavirus patients who have died at KGH has risen by five in a single day.

The total number of reported Covid-19 deaths at the Rothwell Road hospital is now 18.

Three of the patients' deaths announced this afternoon (Sunday, April 5) took place on Thursday (April 2) and two of them took place on Friday (April 3). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: NHS staff samples sent to Germany for testing BBC Northampton
• #NorthantsTogether campaign launched Daventry Express
• Number of Covid-19 cases doubles in just five days in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Six more Covid-19 deaths at Northampton General Hospital takes county total to 28 Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton General Hospital Covid-19 staff swab tests are being flown to Germany for quicker turnaround Northamptonshire Telegraph

Public satisfaction with the NHS rose sharply in 2019 – why?

Public satisfaction with the NHS rose sharply in 2019 – why? If the past few years have taught us anything about public opinion, it is that second guessing it is a fool’s errand, and so it proved this year with the 2019 British Social Attitudes survey. After falling for the previous two years, public satisfaction with the NHS rose significantly, from 53 per cent in 2018 to 60 per cent in 2019. It is a result that very few people working in health policy would have predicted at the time. The King's Fund

See also:

• Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2019: Results and trends from the British Social Attitudes survey Nuffield Trust

Policy paper: Coronavirus (COVID-19): scaling up testing programmes

Policy paper: Coronavirus (COVID-19): scaling up testing programmes How the government intends to scale up testing programmes to provide a test to anyone who needs one. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• New personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance for NHS teams Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS to benefit from £13.4 billion debt write-off Department of Health and Social Care
• Health Secretary sets out plan to carry out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS asks people to share their coronavirus symptoms to help others Department of Health and Social Care
• World's largest trial of potential coronavirus treatments rolled out across the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• Using virtual consultations in the fight against COVID-19 The Health Foundation
• COVID-19: who can employers obtain fast track DBS checks for? NHS Employers
• Staff terms and conditions during COVID-19 - FAQs published NHS Employers
• Updated guidance on Covid-19 prioritisation within community health services NHS England
• NHS to build more Nightingale Hospitals, as London set for opening NHS England
• NICE publishes second set of rapid COVID-19 guidelines NICE
• Brexit and coronavirus: how can the NHS avoid a fight on two fronts? Nuffield Trust
• Guidance: COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC) Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: management of exposed healthcare workers and patients in hospital settings Public Health England
• Smokers at greater risk of severe respiratory disease from COVID-19 Public Health England
• New guidance provides much-needed clarity for GPs on PPE, says College Royal College of General Practitioners

Coronavirus: When will we know the UK lockdown is working?

Coronavirus: When will we know the UK lockdown is working? It's two weeks since Boris Johnson announced the UK's lockdown, and there are signs the rate of infection is starting to slow, though not deaths.

While the number of people dying in hospital with coronavirus is doubling every few days, the figures for confirmed cases and hospitalisations are slowing down.

The daily death total will follow suit, scientists say. But they warn we could still see record highs in the coming days. BBC News

See also:

• Corornavirus: Tributes paid to 'caring' midwife Lynsay Coventry BBC News
• Coronavirus: High street pharmacists 'needlessly put at risk' BBC News
• 'Dial 999 for stroke emergencies despite coronavirus' BBC News
• Coronavirus: How do you care for someone at home? BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK trialling existing and new medicines BBC News
• Nurse deaths 'inevitable' from coronavirus BBC News
• Britain's antibody testing fiasco The Daily Mail
• ALL health workers must wear full protective equipment when near suspected COVID-19 patients The Daily Mail
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson in hospital for coronavirus – everything we know so far The Daily Telegraph
• The Queen's coronavirus speech transcript: 'We will succeed and better days will come' The Daily Telegraph
• More than 6,000 GPs in second wave of doctors given temporary GMC registration GPonline
• After this crisis, remember the NHS is not drained by migrants, but sustained by them | Nesrine Malik The Guardian
• We need to protect all frontline workers The Guardian
• Number of NHS doctors off sick 'may be nearly triple the official estimate' The Guardian
• 'A smiling hero': tributes pour in for nurse dead at 36 from Covid-19 The Guardian
• Matt Hancock warns of tougher UK lockdown if too many break rules The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Britain faces a care crisis that could overwhelm the NHS The Independent
• Coronavirus: Scotland's chief medical officer resigns after apologising for breaking lockdown rules with visit to second home The Independent
• Coronavirus UK: Disabled people will be 'fully protected' in outbreak Metro

Northamptonshire's two hospitals free up quarter of beds ready for coronavirus sufferers

Northamptonshire's two hospitals free up quarter of beds ready for coronavirus sufferers A huge coordinated effort has gone on over the past two weeks to discharge patients from Kettering and Northampton hospitals to free up capacity for virus patients. Daventry Express

See also:

• Coronavirus: 'Coughed over' Northamptonshire officer unable to care for ill mum BBC Northampton
• Number of Covid-19 cases heading towards 200 with 14 deaths in Northamptonshire in less than a month Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Selfless man sets up fundraiser and creates hampers for isolation wards at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• A further four Covid-19 patient deaths at KGH bring hospital total to nine Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Wellingborough school sends science supplies to help at hospital Northamptonshire Telegraph

Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK

Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk level in the UK. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Decision: Coronavirus (COVID-19): notification of data controllers to share information Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Technical Specifications for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Department of Health and Social Care
• Business Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 1 April 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to the Care Act 2014 Department of Health and Social Care
• Children of the pandemic: policies needed to support children during the Covid-19 crisis Institute for Public Policy Research
• Total number of COVID-19 deaths in England by date of death NHS England
• Mental wellbeing while staying at home NHS UK
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on vulnerable children and young people Public Health England

Coronavirus: Testing will 'unlock puzzle', PM says

Coronavirus: Testing will 'unlock puzzle', PM says Health officials say they are "frustrated" by a lack of progress in expanding UK coronavirus testing.

Prof Paul Cosford of Public Health England (PHE) said "everybody involved" is unhappy testing has not "got to the position yet that we need to get to".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded to criticism of the UK's strategy by hailing screening as a solution to "unlock the puzzle" of coronavirus. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Doctors face agonising life-death decisions BBC News
• Coronavirus: Expert panel to assess face mask use by public BBC News
• Coronavirus: Volunteers help protect NHS workers BBC News
• Recovering from coronavirus: Three harrowing stories of surviving Covid-19 BBC News
• WHO 'deeply concerned by coronavirus 'rapid escalation' BBC News
• Coronavirus: NHS 111 has 1.7 million queries in 15 days BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK 'too late' to order testing chemicals and swabs The Daily Mail
• UK has 'bought 2million coronavirus antibody tests from China' The Daily Mail
• When will the UK lockdown end? The four exit strategies The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson restates pledge to boost UK coronavirus testing capacity The Guardian
• London hospital almost runs out of oxygen for coronavirus patients The Guardian
• 'Shambles, chaos, ridiculous': what the UK papers say about Covid-19 testing The Guardian
• UK records biggest daily rise in coronavirus deaths The Guardian
• AA offers free breakdown assistance for NHS workers ITV News
• Coronavirus: Top NHS doctor dies after contracting COVID-19 Sky News

NHS warns "we are not out of the woods yet" as spread of Covid-19 cases slows in Northamptonshire

NHS warns "we are not out of the woods yet" as spread of Covid-19 cases slows in Northamptonshire NHS chiefs are warning Northamptonshire is "not out of the woods yet" despite a slow-down in the spread of Covid-19 cases.

Public Health England figures revealed the number of known cases in the county was 170 as at 9am yesterday (Tuesday March 31).

The increase of 17 cases in the previous 24 hours was the lowest daily rise in a week, mirroring what is going on across the UK. Daventry Express

See also: 

• Coronavirus: Northamptonshire sisters start 'good news' letter BBC Northampton 
• Two more Covid-19 deaths takes total to eight in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Meet little Millie from Corby one of UK's first lockdown babies born on night new rules enforced Northamptonshire Telegraph

First new ventilators to roll off production line this weekend as industry answers call to step up manufacturing

First new ventilators to roll off production line this weekend as industry answers call to step up manufacturing The first devices from the Government’s ventilator challenge will roll off the production line this weekend, ahead of delivery to the NHS next week, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove has announced today. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Joint statement on advance care planning BMA, Care Quality Commission and the Royal College of General Practitioners
• Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to the Care Act 2014 Department of Health and Social Care
• Care Act easements: guidance for local authorities Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS frontline workers visas extended so they can focus on fighting coronavirus Home Office
• Responding to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak The King's Fund
• New advice for safe funerals after discussions with faith leaders Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for care of the deceased Public Health England
• Covid-19: return-to-practice learning plan MIMS Learning
• Automatic NHS visa extensions a welcome step from Government NHS Employers 
• Mental health and psychosocial considerations during Covid-19 outbreak World Health Organization

Coronavirus: Potential drug treatment starts UK trials

Coronavirus: Potential drug treatment starts UK trials A drug that could help treat coronavirus is to be trialled on a small number of patients in England and Scotland.

The studies, which have been fast-tracked by the government, will initially involve 15 NHS centres.

In the absence of a known treatment for the virus, a handful of experimental drugs are being tested globally.

The drug, known as remdesivir, is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Gilead. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: GP surgery apology over 'do not resuscitate' form BBC News
• Coronavirus: Transforming London's ExCeL centre into Nightingale hospital BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Greatest test since World War Two', says UN chief BBC News
• Coronavirus: Hospitals urged to use lab space to test NHS staff BBC News
• Coronavirus: Are loss of smell and taste key symptoms? BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK considers virus-tracing app to ease lockdown BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Death toll hits with 2,352 with 563 new deaths The Daily Mail
• GP surgery sends out letter asking terminally ill patients to sign DNR notices The Daily Mail
• UK coronavirus cases could number 1.8MILLION, scientists say The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Formerly healthy boy, 13, is youngest to die The Daily Mail
• Social distancing is helping to reduce number of coronavirus cases, suggests fever map The Daily Mail
• GPs barred from speaking out about PPE shortages GPonline
• Doctors will have to choose who gets life-saving treatment. Here's how we'll do it | John Chisholm The Guardian
• Hancock orders all spare coronavirus tests to be used for NHS staff The Guardian
• 'Green shoots' visible in UK's fight against Covid-19, says Powis The Guardian
• More orders for NHS ventilators take number to 61,000 The Guardian 
• 'We're at risk, just like doctors': the NHS staff fighting coronavirus behind the scenes The Guardian
• Coronavirus UK: Nurse's devastating account from NHS frontline Metro