Millions could be vaccinated against Covid-19 as UK secures strong portfolio of promising vaccines

Millions could be vaccinated against Covid-19 as UK secures strong portfolio of promising vaccines The UK has secured early access to 90 million doses of promising coronavirus vaccine candidates. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statutory guidance: Local authority powers to impose restrictions under coronavirus regulations Department of Health and Social Care
• Lockdown restrictions lifted in some areas of Leicestershire Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England

Coronavirus: Protein treatment trial 'a breakthrough'

Coronavirus: Protein treatment trial 'a breakthrough' The preliminary results of a clinical trial suggest a new treatment for Covid-19 dramatically reduces the number of patients needing intensive care, according to the UK company that developed it.
The treatment from Southampton-based biotech Synairgen uses a protein called interferon beta which the body produces when it gets a viral infection. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson 'does not want second national lockdown' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Councils in England get new powers for local shutdowns BBC News
• Coronavirus: Cuts 'took away' councils' crisis capacity BBC News
• Coronavirus: Are mutations making it more infectious? BBC News
• SAGE told Boris Johnson 'pre-Covid normality' impossible The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus outbreak confirmed at NHS Test and Trace Centre in Scotland The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: senior doctors warn second wave could 'devastate' NHS The Guardian
• Test and trace failures risk exponential case growth in England, official warns The Guardian
• How prepared is Boris Johnson for a winter resurgence of coronavirus? The Guardian
• Senior Tory accuses Johnson of blaming NHS for government's Covid-19 failings The Guardian
• We must not let the government seize back control from doctors | Andrew Lansley The Guardian
• Daily updates on English Covid-19 deaths paused amid accuracy concerns The Guardian
• Coronavirus: The inside story of how government failed to develop a contact-tracing app Sky News

Brighton Royal Sussex hospital staff member injured in stabbing

Brighton Royal Sussex hospital staff member injured in stabbing A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a member of staff was stabbed at a hospital.

The 56-year-old victim was attacked at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, at about 08:40 BST.

His injuries are not life-threatening and he is "stable and safe", the hospital trust said. BBC News

‘They have stolen his youth’: Mother’s anguish for autistic son still locked up by NHS 14 years after he was first taken to hospital

‘They have stolen his youth’: Mother’s anguish for autistic son still locked up by NHS 14 years after he was first taken to hospital Hundreds of autistic people are detained in hospitals with numbers doubling since 2015. The Independent

Family wins £37m in one of largest maternity negligence claims in NHS history

Family wins £37m in one of largest maternity negligence claims in NHS history The NHS will pay out £37m in compensation to the parents of a brain-damaged child after one of the country’s leading hospitals admitted it was at fault in one of the largest maternity negligence claims the health service has ever seen, The Independent can reveal.

Will every person over 50 get a flu jab on the NHS this winter?

Will every person over 50 get a flu jab on the NHS this winter? Matt Hancock and the government are looking to 'consider all options' to avoid a double-whammy scenario of a bad flu season and a second wave of Covid-19. The Daily Mail

Fifteen serious incidents at KGH in three months

Fifteen serious incidents at KGH in three months Kettering General Hospital has had 15 serious patient safety incidents during the Covid-19 pandemic months.

A report about quality and safeguarding across the county’s health providers, which will be presented to the Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group on Tuesday (July 21), shows that the acute hospital in Rothwell Road has had by far the most serious incidents between April and June this year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Guidance: Developing and evaluating workplace health interventions: employer toolkit

Guidance: Developing and evaluating workplace health interventions: employer toolkit This toolkit provides guidance for employers to develop their offer of workplace health interventions. Public Health England

Update on Randox test kits

Update on Randox test kits NHS Test and Trace has been notified that some test kits produced by Randox laboratories may not meet our required safety standards for coronavirus testing. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19 and social protection in Europe and Central Asia

Covid-19 and social protection in Europe and Central Asia This report, written with the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, aims to help strengthen social protection. It makes the case that the crisis offers a moment of opportunity to expand and strengthen social protection mechanisms to safeguard health, well-being and livelihoods, leaving no-one behind in country response and recovery plans. World Health Organization

NHS 'Exemplars' to help improve learning disability care

NHS 'Exemplars' to help improve learning disability care In an effort to drive forward improvements in the care provided to people with a learning disability, the NHS is calling on local NHS organisations across the country to become learning disability ‘Exemplars’ and act as trailblazers in improving health outcomes for those with learning disabilities.

The call has been issued as the fourth annual learning disability review and action report are published. National Health Executive

See also:

• New NHS ‘Exemplars’ to help close inequality gap for people with a learning disability NHS England
• People with a learning disability four times more likely to die from treatable conditions, report reveals The Independent

Coronavirus: £3bn for NHS to prepare for possible second wave

Coronavirus: £3bn for NHS to prepare for possible second wave The NHS in England will get an extra £3bn of funding to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus, Boris Johnson has announced.

The funding will also help ease winter pressures on the health service, Downing Street said.

It follows warnings a second wave this winter could see as many as 120,000 Covid-19 deaths in UK hospitals. BBC News

See also:

• Hancock calls for urgent review into death data in England BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Deep concerns' over brain injury rehabilitation BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'People shielding too scared to leave home' BBC News
• Covid-19 was still the third most common cause of death in June The Daily Mail
• UK government orders halt to Randox Covid-19 tests over safety issues The Guardian
• Coronavirus outcome in the UK has not been good, admits chief scientific adviser The Independent
• Coronavirus: New test can determine past and present infections in 20 minutes, researchers say The Independent

I'm one of the thousands of extra cancer deaths we'll see this year

I'm one of the thousands of extra cancer deaths we'll see this year The first thing I saw as I woke up from surgery was the tanned face of my surgeon leaning over me. “It’s bad news, I’m afraid.”

Surgery was my last hope. I’d been diagnosed with suspected vaginal cancer at Christmas the previous year. As the lump was still small, my oncologist was optimistic. With radiotherapy and chemo she thought we’d beat it. And, indeed, by last summer I’d been given the all clear. But the tumour returned, and by the time I had surgery it was too late: it had spread and was inoperable. The Guardian

Rise in A&E visits in June at Northampton General Hospital Trust

Rise in A&E visits in June at Northampton General Hospital Trust More people visited A&E last month at the Northampton General Hospital Trust – but attendances were still far lower than in June last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Coronavirus: Thirty-six at Desborough home with Covid 'recovering'

Coronavirus: Thirty-six at Desborough home with Covid 'recovering' Thirty-six people who tested positive for Covid-19 at a Northamptonshire care home are recovering, the home said.

The outbreak at Cheaney Court, Desborough, had been put down to two Kettering General Hospital patients and one from a hospice moved to the home.

The hospital said its patients, sent to the home between 25 May and 4 June, had tested negative but were later found to be positive for the virus. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Too little, too late; many people won’t bother and it's the staff who will suffer — Northampton's view on wearing face masks in shops Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Health bosses link car sharing to rise in Covid-19 cases in Northampton and Kettering Northamptonshire Telegraph
• How the coronavirus pandemic unfolded at KGH as deaths finally slow down Northamptonshire Telegraph

It’s no longer enough to know, we must act: workforce race inequality in the NHS

It’s no longer enough to know, we must act: workforce race inequality in the NHS If the sheer weight of reports, reviews and inquiries was a measure of progress, race inequalities would have been consigned to historical textbooks long ago. This has not been the case, and while the pursuit of equity in opportunities and experiences for all has not yet been realised, including in the NHS, its promise still exists. The King's Fund

Strategic Health Authorities and regions: lessons from history

Strategic Health Authorities and regions: lessons from history In 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement aligned to operate as a single organisation, resulting in the creation of seven regional teams. But this is not the first time national oversight of health care has been supported by these kinds of regional bodies. This report considers what lessons might be learned from recent previous experiences, what works, and what are the pitfalls for this kind of intermediate-level management. A range of senior representatives who were responsible for running regional health authorities in their previous incarnation were interviewed for the report and the issues were discussed with people working in other parts of the health system hierarchy at that time. Nuffield Trust

Coronavirus: impact on young people with mental health needs

Coronavirus: impact on young people with mental health needs This second survey with young people by YoungMinds investigating the mental health impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic shows that many are under increasing pressure and struggling to get the right support. The report reflects the results of a survey with 2,036 young people aged 13-25 with a history of mental health problems, carried out between 6th June and 5th July. It follows on from a similar survey carried out in March, at the start of the lockdown period. YoungMinds 

Rebuilding the NHS: improving medical pathways for acute care

Rebuilding the NHS: improving medical pathways for acute care The RCEM, together with the Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Physicians and the Society for Acute Medicine, have made recommendations for the immediate transformation of the urgent and emergency care pathway. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the public must be confident that they will receive urgent and emergency care in a safe environment The statement set out some principles and makes ten recommendations. Royal College of Emergency Medicine

£62 million to help discharge people with learning disabilities or autism into the community

£62 million to help discharge people with learning disabilities or autism into the community People with learning disabilities or autism who could be better supported in their community will have their discharges from hospital accelerated. Department of Health and Social Care

New focus on babies' and children's health as review launches

New focus on babies' and children's health as review launches A major new review into improving health outcomes in babies and young children has launched. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Call to infect volunteers in Covid-19 vaccine hunt

Coronavirus: Call to infect volunteers in Covid-19 vaccine hunt Nobel laureates are among scientists calling for volunteers to be exposed to coronavirus after receiving a vaccine to see if it offers protection.

They signed an open letter to the head of the US National Institutes of Health, saying these "challenge trials" could accelerate vaccine development.

The Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine programme's director said such studies should be "feasible and informative". BBC News

See also: 

• Coronavirus: Russian hackers target Covid-19 vaccine research BBC News
• Matt Hancock admits he is 'worried' about Covid-19's 'debilitating' effects The Daily Mail
• Hopes build over UK Covid vaccine as Oxford drug trials work The Daily Mail
• Up to two thirds of elderly were discharged from hospitals to care homes without a Covid-19 test The Daily Mail
• Is Britain's coronavirus outbreak GROWING? Symptom-tracking app shows daily cases doubled in a week The Daily Mail
• More than a quarter of close contacts not reached by NHS Test and Trace The Daily Telegraph
• Mandatory face covering in GP practices vital as face-to-face contacts rise, warns BMA GPonline
• Hospital boss who blamed Covid-19 outbreak on staff pictured without mask The Guardian

Care costs in England should be capped, says social care adviser

Care costs in England should be capped, says social care adviser Sir Andrew Dilnot says uncapped care costs leave families at risk of losing assets

Care costs should be capped at £45,000 a year in England and more cash ploughed into provision for the poorest in society, according to Sir Andrew Dilnot, who has advised successive Conservative governments on reform.

The measures to bring care funding closer into line with the NHS would cost an extra £3.1bn a year – a 14% increase on councils’ social care budget – Dilnot said in evidence on Tuesday to the House of Commons health and social care committee. The Guardian

Poor work-life balance is a likely cause of ill health

Poor work-life balance is a likely cause of ill health Those who struggle to achieve a balance between their professional and personal lives are twice as likely to report physical ill health, according to a new study published in the journal BMC Public Health. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Work-life balance and self-reported health among working adults in Europe: a gender and welfare state regime comparative analysis (Open Access) BMC Public Health
• A balancing act: gender and welfare regimes in the association between work-life conflict and poor health BMC Nwetwork

Northamptonshire NHS scheme shortlisted for national award

Northamptonshire NHS scheme shortlisted for national award The yellow bracelet scheme has been selected as a finalist in the Improving Care for Older People category at this year’s Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health officials admit Covid-19 cases ARE on the rise again in Northampton and Kettering

Health officials admit Covid-19 cases ARE on the rise again in Northampton and Kettering Health officials admit the number of reported Covid-19 cases is on the rise again in parts of Northamptonshire.

Reports leaked over the weekend listed Northampton and Kettering among the top 20 “areas of concern” based on data up to July 4. Daventry Express

Obesity: time for action

Obesity: time for action Speculation is building that we are about to see another obesity strategy, ‘chapter’ or plan from government. There have been repeated attempts at tackling the challenge of obesity, or rather childhood obesity, since 2010. The most recent attempts are known, oddly but tellingly, as ‘chapter 1’, ‘chapter 2’ (and ‘chapter 3’ tucked away in the consultation on prevention) and reveal the government’s ambiguity about how far to go on obesity: to settle for minor changes over time, or to go big? Chapter 2 published in June last year added some welcome changes, particularly around marketing, but pulled back from more major change. The King's Fund

Time to be radical? : the view from system leaders on the future of ‘system by default’

Time to be radical? : the view from system leaders on the future of ‘system by default’ The NHS Confederation’s ICS Network conducted a poll to assess the direction of travel systems themselves would like to see, beyond the emergency response to Covid-19 and towards a possible future vision. The results of the poll are outlined in this report. NHS Confederation

Reimagining the future of health and social care: how to learn the lessons from the Covid-19 crisis for a next generation health and care system

Reimagining the future of health and social care: how to learn the lessons from the Covid-19 crisis for a next generation health and care system The Covid-19 pandemic has acted as a real-time experiment of the capacity of the health and care system to meet population needs over the coming years. This report looks at what has been learnt about the UK’s health and social care system through the Covid-19 crisis, and how this might translate to profound change within the system. Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)

The hidden impact of Covid-19 on patient care in the NHS in England

The hidden impact of Covid-19 on patient care in the NHS in England The Covid-19 pandemic led to an extensive shift in the package of care provided by the NHS as hospitals had to prepare for a large surge in patients requiring intensive care. Whilst these changes meant that intensive care did not have to be rationed to Covid-19 patients, data indicates that the shutdown of most non-Covid services, combined with drastic changes in patient behaviour, mean the NHS is now facing a large backlog of non-Covid-19 care, storing up greater problems for the future. This report investigates the extent to which non-Covid care has been disrupted over April, May and June 2020, and the likely impact this will have in the longer term. British Medical Association

UK among highest COVID-19 health worker deaths in the world

UK among highest COVID-19 health worker deaths in the world More than 540 health and social worker deaths in England and Wales, from 3,000 global fatalities

Health workers in Pakistan, Mexico and the Philippines attacked - others detained or dismissed for speaking out

‘It is tragic that we’ve seen so many of our dedicated healthcare workers in England and Wales die from COVID-19’ - Kate Allen

The UK has recorded the among the highest number of COVID-19 health worker deaths in the world, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

Press release: Largest testing programme for coronavirus publishes its initial findings

Press release: Largest testing programme for coronavirus publishes its initial findings Over 120,000 volunteers tested across England between 1 May and 1 June as part of the country’s largest study into coronavirus. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Face coverings to be mandatory in shops and supermarkets from 24 July Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: May 2020 results Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: R number 'lower than thought' before lockdown eased in England

Coronavirus: R number 'lower than thought' before lockdown eased in England The rate of coronavirus infections in England was significantly reduced before lockdown eased in May, according to a government-commissioned study.

Imperial College research showed there were on average 13 positive cases for every 10,000 people and the reproduction number - or R - was 0.57.

The R number was estimated to be between 0.7 and 1 at the time. BBC News

See also:

• Fewer heart attacks seen by NHS amid coronavirus BBC News
• Coronavirus: Smokers quit in highest numbers in a decade BBC News
• Medics demand government releases plans for how the NHS should get ready for second Covid wave The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus England: 85 people A DAY may die until end of July The Daily Mail
• Google dropped from NHS Covid-19 'Data Store' The Daily Telegraph
• 11-day delay for mandatory face coverings will endanger lives, doctors warn GPonline
• New points-based tool could gauge Covid-19 risk for health workers The Guardian
• Can mental health services cope with the devastating effects of Covid-19? The Guardian
• Coronavirus: nurses not wearing masks led to A&E closure, inquiry finds The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Contact tracers in England 'locked out of accounts' Sky News

English hospitals in urgent need of more scanners and staff to deal with backlog

English hospitals in urgent need of more scanners and staff to deal with backlog Exclusive: more than half of NHS patients referred for imaging diagnostics are waiting six weeks or more.

Hospital trusts across England urgently need more equipment, staff and space to deal with a huge backlog of scans for cancer and other conditions, as more than 600,000 people await CT, MRI and other scans amid the coronavirus crisis. The Guardian

Portsmouth hospital A&E appointments trial used by 200 patients

Portsmouth hospital A&E appointments trial used by 200 patients A trial of prebooked A&E appointments has seen more than 200 patients use the system in its first week.

The pilot at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth sees NHS 111 call handlers book time slots for patients who have been advised to go to A&E but are not in a medical emergency.

The trial is aimed at cutting both wait times and the risk of coronavirus spreading in hospital waiting rooms. BBC News

Fertility rate: 'Jaw-dropping' global crash in children being born

Fertility rate: 'Jaw-dropping' global crash in children being born The world is ill-prepared for the global crash in children being born which is set to have a "jaw-dropping" impact on societies, say researchers.

Falling fertility rates mean nearly every country could have shrinking populations by the end of the century.

And 23 nations - including Spain and Japan - are expected to see their populations halve by 2100. BBC News

See also:

• Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study (open access) The Lancet

Doccla and Northampton NHS trust trial virtual wards for vulnerable patients

Doccla and Northampton NHS trust trial virtual wards for vulnerable patients Swedish medtech startup, Doccla, has announced a partnership with Northampton General Hospital NHS trust (NGH) to trial remote smart patient monitoring, which will aim to free up NHS capacity. MobiHealthNews

Police investigate abuse at Northampton children’s home

Police investigate abuse at Northampton children’s home Police have begun an investigation into allegations of child abuse at a council-run children's home.

Four safeguarding incidents have been reported since February at Arnold House in Northampton.

The claims concern various staff members, and a 45-year-old woman has been charged with assault in relation to one of the incidents. BBC Northampton

86-year-old veteran tap dances every day for the NHS

86-year-old veteran tap dances every day for the NHS An 86-year-old veteran from Northampton has dusted off his dancing shoes during lockdown to raise money for the NHS.

Jim Price was inspired by Bedfordshire's Captain Sir Tom Moore, and has pledged to tap dance every day for the next month to raise money for charity. ITV News

Prepare now for a winter COVID-19 peak

Prepare now for a winter COVID-19 peak The UK must prepare now for a potential new wave of coronavirus infections this winter that could be more serious than the first, says a new report from The Academy of Medical Sciences released today (Tuesday 14 July).

Combined with the disruption already created in the health service by COVID-19, a backlog of patients needing NHS assessment and treatment, and the possibility of a flu epidemic, this poses a serious risk to health in the UK.

See also:

• Winter wave of coronavirus 'could be worse than first'  BBC News
• UK could face 120,000 hospital deaths this winter from second Covid-19 wave The Daily Mail
• Second Covid wave could see twice as many deaths and would require reorganisation of NHS hospitals The Daily Telegraph
• UK experts fear up to 120,000 Covid-19 deaths this winter The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Scientists warn of second wave fears ahead of winter The Independent

Outpatient services for the 21st century in the context of COVID-19

Outpatient services for the 21st century in the context of COVID-19 Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) set out principles and recommendations for the reset of outpatient services in a new report, Rebuilding the NHS: Resetting outpatient services in the context of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant rapid and significant change. We have had to change how we treat patients, and patients have changed how they seek healthcare. Although the full picture is far from clear, the pandemic has demonstrated that the NHS can adapt quickly.

New report reveals the impact of Covid-19 on women with ovarian cancer

New report reveals the impact of Covid-19 on women with ovarian cancer The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on treatment and support for women with ovarian cancer, as well as significant delays in diagnosis, according to a new report, Voices of women with ovarian cancer: the coronavirus pandemic and its impact from Target Ovarian Cancer

See also:

• Ovarian cancer treatments must restart immediately, charity warns The Daily Mail

Coronavirus: Face coverings in England's shops to be compulsory from 24 July

Coronavirus: Face coverings in England's shops to be compulsory from 24 July Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.

Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a fine of up to £100, the government is to announce.

The move will bring England into line with Scotland and other major European nations like Spain, Italy and Germany. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Llamas provide key to immune therapy BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK plans 'biggest flu vaccination programme ever' The Daily Mail
• Scientists to trial coronavirus antibody treatment to protect older people from Covid-19 The Daily Mail
• NHS data reveals 'huge variation' in Covid-19 death rates across England The Guardian
• 'You have to take action': one hospital cleaner’s journey through the pandemic – podcast The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Matt Hancock to take action on ‘do not resuscitate’ orders after growing concern on use of notices during Covid-19 crisis The Independent
• Face masks in shops requirement is impossible to enforce, police officers say The Independent

UK's new fast-track immigration system to exclude care workers

UK's new fast-track immigration system to exclude care workers Minimum salary thresholds to also remain in place, presenting additional barrier. 
 
The government has set out further details of its post-Brexit immigration system, which will now include a fast-track arrangement for health workers, although care staff will not be eligible, and the same minimum salary thresholds remain in place. The Guardian

 

See also:

• UK points-based immigration system: further details statement Home Office
• Under today’s immigration proposals, social care will still be left high and dry The Health Foundation
• Government provides no solution to social care ‘staffing blackhole’ NHS Employers
• New UK immigration rules will exclude some NHS workers and the majority of social care staff Nursing Notes
• Care workers do not qualify for health visa in new post-Brexit immigration plans Sky News

More than 100 babies in Northamptonshire not vaccinated against potentially deadly illnesses

More than 100 babies in Northamptonshire not vaccinated against potentially deadly illnesses More than 100 babies are missing out on potentially life-saving jabs in Northamptonshire, with vaccine uptake remaining below the level the World Health Organisation says is needed for herd immunity. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire hospital beds freed up in lockdown mass discharge remained empty for a month

Northamptonshire hospital beds freed up in lockdown mass discharge remained empty for a month Hundreds of beds at Northampton and Kettering hospitals freed up as part of a mass discharge at the start of lockdown remained largely empty for a month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Wife's 'no answers' fear over Northamptonshire care home outbreak BBC Northampton
• Revealed: 20 areas of England at most risk of coronavirus resurgence The Guardian
• NHS reports nine more coronavirus patients have died in the Anglia region ITV News
• Revealed: Most comprehensive Covid-19 data published by Northants public health team Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Iconic Spitfire salutes our heroes at Northampton General Hospital during special flypast Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chief executive retires after 25 years at Northampton General Hospital

Chief executive retires after 25 years at Northampton General Hospital After 25 years of working at Northampton General Hospital, the chief executive has retired.

Sonia Swart, who worked as a doctor at the Cliftonville hospital before becoming a medical director and then CEO, stepped aside earlier this month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Did the government meet its Covid-19 test targets?

Did the government meet its Covid-19 test targets? Since March, the government has invited the country to judge its progress on these tests by announcing measurable targets. We have written about some of them before, but new data and new targets have since arrived. Here we attempt to describe exactly what was promised, and exactly what happened afterwards. FullFact

See also:

• New data reveals PM’s testing speeds claims as wrong FullFact

BMA withdraws from the joint statement put in place for trainees during COVID-19

BMA withdraws from the joint statement put in place for trainees during COVID-19 The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced its withdrawal from the joint statement, which details the application of contractual protections during the pandemic, relating to the Terms and Conditions of Service (T&Cs) for NHS Doctors and Dentists in Training (England) 2016. NHS Employers

Boris Johnson plans radical shake-up of NHS in bid to regain more direct control

Boris Johnson plans radical shake-up of NHS in bid to regain more direct control Exclusive: health secretary said to be frustrated by his lack of authority over NHS England boss Simon Stevens

Boris Johnson is planning a radical and politically risky reorganisation of the NHS amid government frustration at the health service’s chief executive, Simon Stevens, the Guardian has learned. The Guardian

See also:

• What might Boris Johnson’s restructuring plan mean for the NHS? The Guardian
• Boris Johnson takes on politically perilous task in reorganising NHS The Guardian
• Boris Johnson plans to bring NHS back under more political control The Independent

Immunity to Covid-19 may be lost in just a few months

Immunity to Covid-19 may be lost in just a few months People who have recovered from Covid-19 may lose their immunity to the disease within months, according to research suggesting the virus could reinfect people year after year, like common colds. 

In the first longitudinal study of its kind, scientists analysed the immune response of more than 90 patients and healthcare workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust and found levels of antibodies that can destroy the virus peaked about three weeks after the onset of symptoms then swiftly declined. The Guardian

See also:

• Longitudinal evaluation and decline of antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection (open access) MedRxiv
• Coronavirus: More than 100 outbreaks tackled a week, says Matt Hancock BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: Why are people remaining ill for so long? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Labour calls for clarity over face coverings in England BBC News
• Coronavirus US: Cases hit record single-day high again at 63k The Daily Mail
• Scientists warn UK Government to prepare for 'visible resistance' to future lockdowns The Daily Mail
• Matt Hancock says ban on care home visits will be lifted 'in the coming days' The Daily Mail
• Local lockdowns running at a hundred per week, Matt Hancock reveals The Daily Telegraph
• Cross-party group of MPs to lead first UK coronavirus inquiry The Guardian
• No 10 plans weight loss drive to ready UK for expected Covid-19 second wave The Guardian
• Man plans to sue NHS after cancer surgery delayed due to coronavirus The Guardian
• More than 500000 tasks completed by NHS volunteer army ITV News
• Coronavirus: 'Catastrophic' drop in NHS services is harming patients, doctors warn Sky News

Cases of child malnutrition in England double in last six months

Cases of child malnutrition in England double in last six months Almost 2,500 children admitted to hospitals in England suffering malnutrition in 2020

Almost 2,500 children have been admitted to hospital with malnutrition in the first six months of the year – double the number over the same period last year – prompting fresh concern that families are struggling to afford to feed themselves and that the pandemic has intensified the problem. The Guardian

Fears for pensioners and vulnerable as NHS moves to axe telephone prescription services - iNews

Fears for pensioners and vulnerable as NHS moves to axe telephone prescription services Exclusive: Patients are being told they cannot order repeat prescription by phone from 1 September as Government backs digital system, which Age UK wants could lead to older people becoming “seriously unwell”. iNews

Northamptonshire to get integrated care record

Northamptonshire to get integrated care record The Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) has agreed on a contract with Graphnet Health to develop a shared care record for the county. UKAuthority

Another sombre milestone as Covid-19 claims its 300th victim at Northampton General Hospital

Another sombre milestone as Covid-19 claims its 300th victim at Northampton General Hospital No let-up in warnings from local health officials as known death toll reaches 642 in county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Northampton children's home visit rules 'draconian' BBC Northampton
• Northamptonshire doctor's plea to cover up when you're going out to keep Covid-19 at bay Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS performance summary: May – June 2020

NHS performance summary: May – June 2020 Today, NHS England published the latest data on key performance measures for May and June of this year. Here we show some of these statistics and how they compare with previous years. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• The NHS will not be able to restart all of its services at once and difficult decisions will have to be made The Health Foundation
• Story of two halves as NHS struggles to shake off effects of coronavirus Nuffield Trust

Increase in use of electronic prescriptions

Increase in use of electronic prescriptions More than 85% of primary care prescriptions in England are now processed electronically, after a rise in use of the service during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. NHS Digital

Learning from local areas: CQC reviews

Learning from local areas: CQC reviews To help providers of health and social care services learn from the experience of responding to coronavirus around the country, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is carrying out rapid reviews of how providers are working collaboratively in local areas.

Detailed guide: Meeting people from outside your household

Detailed guide: Meeting people from outside your household How you can see people that you do not live with while protecting yourself and others from coronavirus (COVID-19). Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• 97.5% of in-person coronavirus (COVID-19) tests returned next day Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics Public Health England 

Coronavirus: Data shows cases in England falling

Coronavirus: Data shows cases in England falling Two reports charting coronavirus cases in England show the number of people in the community with the disease is falling. 

The Office for National Statistics estimates one in 3,900 people have Covid - 0.03% of the population, down from one in 2,200 the previous week.

And data from Public Health England shows confirmed cases fell by 25% in the week to 5 July. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Asymptomatic testing for taxi drivers and cleaners BBC News
• Coronavirus: Conservative councillor PPE contracts questioned BBC News
• Britain records 85 more Covid-19 deaths The Daily Mail
• The 43 local authorities in England where Covid-19 cases are RISING
• Exclusive: Coronavirus could fuel a superbugs timebomb The Daily Telegraph
• Asymptomatic testing extended to thousands of workers in England The Guardian
• 'Left in limbo': Leicester fears local lockdown will go on until mid-August The Guardian
• NHS expands drone transport of samples from Scottish islands The Guardian
• NHS investigation launched after bag of Covid-19 test samples found on road The Independent

Coronavirus: Dementia patients 'deteriorating' without family visits

Coronavirus: Dementia patients 'deteriorating' without family visits Relatives of care home residents with dementia should be treated as key workers, leading charities say.

In a letter to the health secretary, they write that the care given by family members is "essential" to residents' mental and physical health.

They argue the current limits on visitors have had "damaging consequences". BBC News

NHS patients in England face longest waits on record for surgery and cancer care

NHS patients in England face longest waits on record for surgery and cancer care Fears conditions will have worsened as patients unable to access care during pandemic

Far fewer people are having surgery or cancer treatment because Covid-19 has disrupted NHS services so dramatically, and those who do are facing the longest waits on record. The Guardian

Rishi Sunak says free parking for NHS staff is 'temporary' and it's right to end it

Rishi Sunak says free parking for NHS staff is 'temporary' and it's right to end it Rishi Sunak has insisted it is right to end the “temporary” offer of free parking at hospitals for NHS employees after MPs began a cross-party campaign to abolish the charges permanently. iNews

Unions urge Northampton General Hospital bosses not to make NHS staff pay to park at work

Unions urge Northampton General Hospital bosses not to make NHS staff pay to park at work Health unions are urging bosses at Northampton General Hospital to put their money where their mouth is and keep free parking for NHS staff beyond the end of this month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS Trust trials remote smart patient monitoring

NHS Trust trials remote smart patient monitoring Virtual hospital care start-up Doccla, is partnering with Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust (NGH) to trial remote smart patient monitoring. Med-Tech Innovation

Time to speak up: some necessary words about racism

Time to speak up: some necessary words about racism In September 2016 nine people from Black Lives Matter UK chained themselves together on the runway at London City airport to protest against racial injustice. Seven of them were arrested after passengers complained about inconvenience, and the nation failed to see what the fuss was all about. It’s hard to believe that just four years later the world appears to have made an about turn. The King's Fund

A new era of digital leadership

A new era of digital leadership This guide aims to help trust leaders build on the momentum made during Covid-19 and support NHS boards lead their organisations into the next stage of digitisation. It includes a number of board-level case studies as well as key Covid-19 reflections and lessons from other sectors. It also sets out useful questions for board leaders as they reflect on their own digital leadership. NHS Providers

Informal carers

Informal carers This briefing paper provides information about the number of informal carers in the UK and the issues they face. It also explains the rights, benefits and support available to informal carers as well as current and previous government policy on caring. House of Commons Library

NHS capital expenditure and financial management

NHS capital expenditure and financial management This report expresses concerns about widely reported shortages of personal protective equipment for clinical and care workers during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and says Government is still not treating this with sufficient urgency. It argues that the NHS needs a coherent plan for how it will function after the peak of the Covid-19 crisis with regard to issues such as workforce shortages, capital investment strategies, and tackling trust deficits. House of Commons Public Accounts Committee

Applicants to nursing courses in England up 16% as NHS employs record number of nurses and midwives

Applicants to nursing courses in England up 16% as NHS employs record number of nurses and midwives A record number of nurses and midwives are employed in the NHS, as the Nursing and Midwifery’s Council reports its largest ever annual increase of registered nursing and midwifery professional. The Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

See also:

• Increases in nurses and midwives ‘drop in the ocean’ NHS Employers
• Nurse and midwife numbers jump by record amount BBC News
• Boris Johnson's pledge to recruit 50,000 more NHS nurses is in doubt The Guardian

Transparency data: NHS test and trace statistics (England): 25 June to 1 July 2020

Transparency data: NHS test and trace statistics (England): 25 June to 1 July 2020 Experimental statistics for weeks 1 to 5 of NHS test and trace contact tracing in England. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics Public Health England

Coronavirus: Planned ops in May fell by 80% in England

Coronavirus: Planned ops in May fell by 80% in England Planned operations in England fell by 80% in May compared with the same month in 2019, NHS figures show. 

The number of people attending A&E was a third lower in June than in the same month last year.

But waiting lists for treatment also fell as fewer people are having key tests for cancer and heart disease. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Hillingdon Hospital shuts to emergencies after outbreak BBC News
• Care regulator investigated safety at up to 50 nursing homes during England's Covid-19 crisis The Daily Mail
• Government's SAGE group's role in coronavirus will be 'downgraded' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: 126 new fatalities in preliminary death toll The Daily Mail
• NHS Trust boss accuses her own staff of being responsible for coronavirus outbreak on wards The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus world round-up: Global cases rise by 12 million as US continues to be the hardest hit nation The Daily Telegraph
• Councils need detailed data to contain Covid-19. Why have they been sidelined? | Chris Ham and Kate Ardern The Guardian
• Leicester mayor accuses Matt Hancock of not sharing Covid-19 data The Guardian
• Treating dying people in hospices during Covid-19 is breaking me The Guardian
• Why I'm sceptical about the NHS's coronavirus recovery service | Frances Ryan The Guardian
• Government lukewarm on NHS plan to cut covid death risk Health Service Journal
• NHS 'racial bias' putting BAME groups at greater risk of coronavirus, say doctors iNews
• Health ombudsman reopens complaints process to help NHS 'learn Covid lessons' Pulse

Care homes face staffing 'black hole' with new immigration bill

Care homes face staffing 'black hole' with new immigration bill Care homes could face a staffing "black hole" because of the impact of the government's immigration bill, care leaders have warned.

The Cavendish Coalition - which represents UK health and social care groups - says it is gravely concerned.

The current proposals would not allow enough overseas workers to be recruited, it has warned. BBC News

Numbers of Northamptonshire's Covid-19 victims finally starting to slow down

Numbers of Northamptonshire's Covid-19 victims finally starting to slow down Numbers of Covid-19 victims in Northamptonshire are finally slowing down, but with 640 lives already lost. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• People have been lied to over number of Covid-19 cases in Northamptonshire, claims GP surgeries boss Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Third of recorded Northants Covid-19 cases have been in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton lab completes 4,500 Covid-19 lockdown tests as Government plans to cut funding Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Lakeside Healthcare boss hits out at unreliable Covid-19 data Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Mobile Covid-19 testing unit returning to Wellingborough this week Northamptonshire Telegraph

Learning from lockdown: How can we build a healthier future post-COVID-19?

Learning from lockdown: How can we build a healthier future post-COVID-19? During the period of lockdown unprecedented steps have been taken across the UK – not just to protect people from coronavirus (COVID-19) but from the consequences of the economic impact. These interventions have touched on all aspects of our lives and illuminated many long-standing inequalities. It raises the question: If such support is important now, then why not in the future? The Health Foundation

A hopeful moment? Addressing race inequalities in the NHS workforce

A hopeful moment? Addressing race inequalities in the NHS workforce It's not by design that we’re launching two pieces of work about workforce race inequalities and inclusion in the NHS at a time of heightened focus on racism in society. Our research about the lived experiences of ethnic minority staff and how inequalities are being addressed by three NHS trusts took place before the Covid-19 pandemic and the recharged Black Lives Matter movement. The King's Fund

See also:

• 'A long way to go': ethnic minority NHS staff share their stories The King's Fund

General practice in the post Covid world: challenges and opportunities for general practice

General practice in the post Covid world: challenges and opportunities for general practice This report calls on the four governments of the UK to each produce a comprehensive plan to support GPs in managing the longer-term effects of Covid-19 in the community. The RCGP says the plans should contain: costed proposals for additional funding for general practice; solutions for how the current GP workforce capacity can manage new and pre-existing pressures; commitments to continue the reduction in regulatory burdens and ‘red tape’ which has enabled GPs to spend more time on frontline patient care during the pandemic; a systematic approach for identifying those patients who are likely to require primary care support; and proposals for how health inequalities will be minimised to ensure all patients have access to the necessary post-Covid-19 care. Royal College of General Practitioners

SAS doctor survey report

SAS doctor survey report Read the results and key findings from an NHS Employers' survey about the recruitment and retention of specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors.

Coronavirus: Airborne transmission cannot be ruled out, WHO says

Coronavirus: Airborne transmission cannot be ruled out, WHO says The World Health Organization has acknowledged there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air.

The airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings, an official said.

If the evidence is confirmed, it may affect guidelines for indoor spaces. BBC News

See also:

• Robust plan for PPE 'must be in place for winter' BBC News
• Expertise concern over new Covid monitoring centre BBC News
• Coronavirus: Trump moves to pull US out of World Health Organization BBC News
• Coronavirus: Fear over rise in animal-to-human diseases BBC News
• British officials WILL consider telling people to wear face coverings in public, Matt Hancock says The Daily Mail
• NHS must not use coronavirus crisis as excuse to avoid tackling failings, MPs say The Daily Telegraph
• US reaches grim milestone of 3 million Covid-19 cases The Daily Telegraph
• UK has no clear PPE strategy for second wave of coronavirus, MPs warn The Guardian
• Who might the government seek to blame for the UK's Covid-19 failings? The Guardian
• Frontline workers in UK set to pay extra tax for Covid-19 tests The Guardian

Black Nurses documentary recalls horrific experiences of racism

Black Nurses documentary recalls horrific experiences of racism Black Nurses: The women who saved the NHS aired on BBC Four on Tuesday night and left viewers moved, as nurses recalled their horrific experiences of racism.

The documentary tells the story of the thousands of Caribbean and African women who came over to the UK around 70 years ago to help save the then ailing health service. Metro

See also:

• Black nurses: The women who saved the NHS BBC iPlayer (available until 6/8/20)

Denial of women's concerns contributed to medical scandals, says inquiry

Denial of women's concerns contributed to medical scandals, says inquiry Review into vaginal mesh and other products reveals much patient harm was ‘avoidable’

An arrogant culture in which serious medical complications were dismissed as “women’s problems” contributed to a string of healthcare scandals over several decades, an inquiry ordered by the government has found. The Guardian

See also:

• First do no harm: the report of the IMMDSReview The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review
• Lives ruined as damage viewed as 'women's problems' BBC News
• Mesh, Primidos and valproate failings highlighted by review BBC News
• Cumberlege review: The patients who fought for answers BBC News

Free hospital parking to end for NHS staff in England, government says

Free hospital parking to end for NHS staff in England, government says Only ‘key patient groups and staff in certain circumstances’ will be exempt from fees as pandemic eases.

Free hospital parking for NHS staff in England will end in all but “certain circumstances” once the coronavirus pandemic begins to ease, the government has said. The Guardian

Northampton General Hospital keeps visiting ban in place 'for a little while longer' on most wards

Northampton General Hospital keeps visiting ban in place 'for a little while longer' on most wards Bosses at Northampton General Hospital have made the decision to keep restrictions, which ban most visitors, in place ‘for a little while longer’.

Last week, the hospital announced that it was reviewing the situation and would announce the ‘new normal’ in due time. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• NHS reports two more coronavirus patients have died in the Anglia region ITV News

Mental health care in the time of Covid-19

Mental health care in the time of Covid-19 Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, mental health has received a lot of attention but the focus has been largely on the mental health of NHS staff and care workers, and the impact of lockdown on the population’s mental health and wellbeing rather than on people with existing mental health problems. On 27 April Matt Hancock announced that the NHS was once again ‘open’ starting with restoration of priority services such as cancer and mental health. But for those working in mental health services, the idea that they had ever stopped providing care was another example of a lack of understanding of the needs of people with mental health problems and the care being provided to support them. The King's Fund

Returning the NHS to an even keel

Returning the NHS to an even keel This briefing provides insight into the challenges facing medical specialties. It shows that almost half of physician specialities, including cardiology, gastroenterology and rheumatology, expect to be working at less than previous pre-Covid activity levels for at least 12 months or more. The briefing captures several aspects of restarting activity including specialty capacity, adaptations to services, co-dependencies. It also provides an insight into potential capacity scenarios in genitourinary medicine and rheumatology. Royal College of Physicians

Recovery position: what next for the NHS?

Recovery position: what next for the NHS? This report, based on the first full survey of NHS trust leaders since Covid-19 started, sets out the scale of increased demand and the dramatic loss of capacity many trusts are now facing as the NHS juggles treating Covid-19 patients with restarting the full range of services. The report shows that, while trusts are restoring services as fast as they can, some trusts – particularly acute hospitals – believe this restoration will take more than six months. NHS Providers

Capturing beneficial change from the Covid-19 pandemic: response from the British Geriatrics Society

Capturing beneficial change from the Covid-19 pandemic: response from the British Geriatrics Society This report is a response to a request from NHS England and NHS Improvement for examples of beneficial innovations across the NHS that have been implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic and should be retained as the NHS starts to resume business as usual. BGS members contributed examples of innovations that have been implemented in their areas. British Geriatrics Society

Disparities in the impact of Covid-19 in Black and Minority Ethnic populations: review of the evidence and recommendations for action

Disparities in the impact of Covid-19 in Black and Minority Ethnic populations: review of the evidence and recommendations for action The question of why more people from black and ethnic minority (BME) backgrounds appear to be at greater risk of hospitalisation and deaths with Covid-19 – and the need for urgent action in order to address this – has become one of the most urgent issues in this pandemic in the UK. This report on the evidence suggests that the reasons why some BME groups appear to be at greater risk of dying with Covid-19 are complex with interplay between socio-economic disadvantage in BME populations, high prevalence of chronic diseases and the impact of long-standing racial inequalities being key explanations. The Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)

Coronavirus: Majority testing positive have no symptoms

Coronavirus: Majority testing positive have no symptoms Only 22% of people testing positive for coronavirus reported having symptoms on the day of their test, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This hammers home the importance of "asymptomatic transmission" - spread of the virus by people who aren't aware they're carrying it.

Health and social care staff appeared to be more likely to test positive. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Spanish study casts doubt on herd immunity feasibility BBC News
• Coronavirus: Pubs close after positive tests BBC News
• Coronavirus: Don't leave home without a face covering, says science body BBC News
• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson criticised over 'cowardly' care home comments BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Big outbreaks inevitable if rules aren't kept to The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Contact tracing app 'urgent' say NHS chiefs The Daily Mail
• Herd immunity to coronavirus may be 'unachievable' because 5% of people in Spain have antibodies The Daily Mail
• UK Government 'panic bought' £13.4million worth of Roche's coronavirus antibody tests The Daily Mail
• UK calls halt to data on number of people tested for Covid-19 The Guardian
• How many children at risk? UK health visitors count the cost of lockdown The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Unprecedented demand for action on NHS workforce shortages The Independent
• Photos unveiled documenting the NHS frontline's coronavirus experiences ITV News
• NHS prepares for second wave of COVID-19 as lockdown restrictions loosened OnMedica

NHS chief calls for social care revolution

NHS chief calls for social care revolution Coronavirus has shone a "harsh spotlight" on what is happening in settings like care homes, NHS England's chief executive has said.

"In my opinion, we must use this as a moment to resolve once and for all, to actually properly resource and reform the way in which social care works in this country," Sir Simon Stevens told the Andew Marr Show. BBC News

Kettering General Hospital: Police to probe waiting list figures

Kettering General Hospital: Police to probe waiting list figures Police have launched an investigation into allegations a hospital manipulated waiting list figures, the BBC has learned.

It follows whistleblower claims in 2017 that Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire deliberately removed patients from waiting lists.

In all, 138 patients were harmed after hundreds waited more than a year for treatment.

The hospital said it was supporting "a review of [historical] allegations". BBC News

Lakeside Healthcare boss hits out at unreliable Covid-19 data

Lakeside Healthcare boss hits out at unreliable Covid-19 data A North Northamptonshire healthcare boss has hit out at unreliable data and said residents and health officials are being lied to about the number of positive cases in the county. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Watch: Northampton General Hospital thanks YOU for your kindness during the pandemic

Watch: Northampton General Hospital thanks YOU for your kindness during the pandemic Northampton General Hospital has released a video to thank the general public for its support during the coronavirus pandemic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Addressing race inequalities in the NHS needs engagement, commitment and a plan

Addressing race inequalities in the NHS needs engagement, commitment and a plan In early July, The King’s Fund will publish a report looking at how to address workforce race inequalities and inclusion, based on research with three NHS provider organisations and the lived experience of ethnic minority staff. This is the product of many months of work, begun in a world before Covid-19 and the death of George Floyd. The presenting problem is well known – despite having an ethnically diverse workforce, long-standing race inequalities in the NHS blight the working lives of many ethnic minority staff who are more likely to be discriminated against, more likely to experience bullying, harassment and abuse, and less likely to reach senior positions than their white colleagues. The King's Fund

Scoping Report on Hospital and Health Care Acquisition of COVID-19 and its Control

Scoping Report on Hospital and Health Care Acquisition of COVID-19 and its Control The focus of this report is on SARS-CoV-2 infection acquired in hospital. It is timed to inform decisions about the opening up of hospitals and other healthcare settings for non-COVID-19 activities and NHS plans for winter and future waves of COVID-19. Royal Society 

The mental health emergency: how has the coronavirus pandemic impacted our mental health?

The mental health emergency: how has the coronavirus pandemic impacted our mental health? The findings of this report of more than 16,000 people during lockdown reveals the scale of the impact of the pandemic on people with mental health problems. Two out of three (65 per cent) adults over 25 and three-quarters (75 per cent) of young people aged 13-24 with an existing mental health problem reported worse mental health. Mind

Majority of children no longer need to shield

Majority of children no longer need to shield The majority of children currently considered extremely clinical vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19) will be able to be removed from the shielded patient list. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics Department of Health and Social Care
• Regular retesting rolled out for care home staff and residents Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: Vivaldi 1: coronavirus (COVID-19) care homes study report Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS to launch ground breaking online COVID-19 rehab service NHS England