Failings at Northampton mental health ward set up for women with eating disorders

 Failings at Northampton mental health ward set up for women with eating disorders Inspectors have scolded a ward set up to treat women with eating and personality disorders at a Northampton mental health hospital during the pandemic in a new quality report.

The Spencer South ward at St Andrew's Hospital was established in April 2020 to take weight off the NHS after fears arose that patients with eating disorders (ED) would be at risk during the pandemic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review This report looks at the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for people with a mental health condition, a learning disability or autistic people. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• CQC report: Care of people with learning disabilities 'inhumane' BBC News

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review NHS Employers commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to investigate the evidence-base of health and wellbeing interventions used in healthcare and their implications for wellbeing outcomes. The findings in the report add to current knowledge about wellbeing interventions that are commonly implemented, if there is any evidence of their efficacy, and what future research still needs to be undertaken in this area. Institute for Employment Studies

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life This report looks at the life events and circumstances that can affect people's mental health in later life, including bereavement, loneliness, ill health and caring responsibilities. Focusing mainly on anxiety and depression, the report also describes people’s mixed experiences of seeking support from GPs, therapists and other services. It highlights the common barriers and makes recommendations for what needs to change to improve support for older people and ensure they can live a mentally healthy later life. Independent Age

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health This research finds that some older people are coping with the pandemic, but a sizeable minority are finding life incredibly tough. Those who are not very well and have long term health conditions were particularly likely to report that this is an extremely challenging time for them. The research was made up of a survey of older people, their friends, families, and loved ones (promoted across the Age UK social media channels for two weeks in August 2020 and completed by 569 people) and representative online polling of 1,364 people over the age of 60, conducted by Kantar Polling in September 2020. Age UK

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff NHS staff will get rapid access to expanded mental health services that are being rolled out across the country as part of efforts to deal with the second wave of coronavirus. NHS England and NHS Improvement will invest an extra £15 million to strengthen mental health support for nurses, paramedics, therapists, pharmacists, and support staff. NHS England

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released The Health Secretary is urging the public – and especially young people – to follow the rules and protect themselves and others from COVID-19, as new data and a new film released today reveal the potentially devastating long-term impact of the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism'

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism' A scientist advising the government on ethnicity and Covid says "structural racism is not a reasonable explanation" for black and south Asian people's greater risk of illness and death.

An earlier report by Public Health England said racism may contribute to the unequal death toll. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: UK on course for 'tens of thousands' more deaths BBC News
• Covid: No safety concerns found with Oxford vaccine trial after Brazil death BBC News
• Long Covid: Who is more likely to get it? BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: 26,688 new cases and 191 deaths in daily toll The Daily Mail
• One in ten under-50s will be struck by 'long Covid', data shows The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson's three-tier lockdown system is 'the worst of all worlds', SAGE member warns The Daily Mail
• Parents struggle to get help for mentally ill children during pandemic The Guardian
• Warning of tens of thousands of deaths in England from Covid-19 second wave The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Scientists identify human protein ‘which makes Covid highly infectious’ The Independent
• Coronavirus: Test and trace forced to bring in untrained workers as system is overwhelmed by second wave, leaked email reveals The Independent

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing'

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing' The pandemic is an opportunity to reset policy to tackle the “chronic, enduring problems” that nurses face, according to Anne Marie Rafferty, professor of nursing policy at King’s College London and president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

“If I can use this phrase, Covid should be the circuit breaker for many of the ills which have plagued the profession for many years: let’s make that happen.”Rafferty, who received a damehood for services to nursing in the Queen’s birthday honours list earlier this month, wants to see tangible recognition of the contributions that frontline nursing colleagues make. The Guardian

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs Full cost of adequately funding sector is likely to run into tens of billions, committee says

A cross-party group of MPs have called for an urgent multibillion-pound injection into England’s crisis-hit social care system to address rising levels of need among older and disabled people and to improve pay and skills for care workers.

The health and social care select committee said ministers should invest at least £7bn a year in the care sector by 2023-24, though it said this was only a “starting point” and that it would not address unmet care needs nor improve access to care. The Guardian

Coronavirus outbreaks in Northamptonshire care homes rise

Coronavirus outbreaks in Northamptonshire care homes rise Coronavirus outbreaks in Northamptonshire care homes are on the rise again.

Latest official data released by the county’s public health team has shown that in the week until October 11 there were 12 Covid-19 outbreaks at Northamptonshire care homes, with 44 recorded cases in total. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• How to report people in Northamptonshire for breaking Covid-19 rules Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton school closed to all pupils with immediate effect Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Patrollers at Weston Favell Shopping Centre in Northampton are doubling down on efforts to encourage customers to wear masks Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Coronavirus outbreaks confirmed at ten Northamptonshire schools Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hundreds of Northants women suspected of having breast cancer were not screened in required time during pandemic

Hundreds of Northants women suspected of having breast cancer were not screened in required time during pandemic More than 200 women urgently referred to Northampton General Hospital (NGH) with suspected breast cancer had to wait longer than they should have for screening this spring and summer. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Advancing mental health equalities strategy

Advancing mental health equalities strategy This strategy summarises the core actions all mental health services need to take to better address inequalities in access, experience and outcomes across the sector. It is also an important element of the overall NHS plans to accelerate action to address health inequalities in the next stage of responding to Covid-19. NHS England

Consultant workforce shortages and solutions: now and in the future

Consultant workforce shortages and solutions: now and in the future The NHS workforce faces a perfect storm of consultants choosing to retire earlier, a significant proportion approaching retirement age and a growing trend of younger doctors walking away from their career. Covid-19 added significant additional pressure on the workforce with doctors working long hours, in new settings, whilst risking their own lives. Now the NHS is facing a growing backlog of unmet need on top of the existing staffing and resourcing shortages. This report sets out the actions government and employers need to take, now and in the future, to ensure consultants are retained in the NHS. British Medical Association

See also:

• NHS facing ‘catastrophic shortage’ of top hospital doctors Metro

Caring behind closed doors: six months on. The continued impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on unpaid carers

Caring behind closed doors: six months on. The continued impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on unpaid carers Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of carers have had to provide more care. It has left many exhausted and close to burning out according to a new report. They urgently need more support to help them through winter. Carers UK

See also:

• Covid: Burn-out fears of 'exhausted' unpaid carers BBC News

Endometriosis in the UK: time for change

Endometriosis in the UK: time for change An inquiry by the APPG on Endometriosis has highlighted the devastating impact endometriosis can have on all aspects of a person’s life. The inquiry surveyed over 10,000 people with endometriosis, interviewed healthcare practitioners and those with the condition about their experiences. Amongst the findings was that average diagnosis times for endometriosis have not improved in over a decade and it still takes eight years on average to get a diagnosis. The inquiry report sets out a series of support measures it asks all UK governments to commit to. All Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis

Delays and destitution: an audit of Doctors of the World's Hospital Access Project (July 2018-20)

Delays and destitution: an audit of Doctors of the World's Hospital Access Project (July 2018-20) This report finds that migrants living in extremely vulnerable circumstances in England are waiting up to 224 weeks to receive medical care because of laws forcing hospitals to carry out immigration checks and withhold care from patients deemed not eligible for free NHS treatment – even when the patient has no income, or the upfront payment would push them into severe debt or further poverty. Doctors of the World

Deaths at home: More than 26,000 extra this year, ONS finds

Deaths at home: More than 26,000 extra this year, ONS finds More men than normal are dying at home from heart disease in England and Wales, and more women are dying from dementia and Alzheimer's, figures show.

More than 26,000 extra deaths occurred in private homes this year, an analysis by the Office for National Statistics found. BBC News

See also:

• Deaths in private homes, England and Wales (provisional): deaths registered from 28 December 2019 to 11 September 2020 Office for National Statistics
• A third more deaths occurring at home than before Covid in England The Guardian
• Deaths at home from dementia and Alzheimer's soar during coronavirus The Independent

UK plan to be first to run human challenge Covid trials

UK plan to be first to run human challenge Covid trials The UK is pushing ahead to be the first nation to carry out "human challenge" studies where up to 90 healthy people will be deliberately exposed to Covid.

The trials, which could begin in January, aim to speed up the race to get a Covid-19 vaccine. BBC News

See also:

• Expert partnership to explore and establish Human Challenge studies of COVID-19 in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid: England boosting plasma stocks for patients BBC News
• Covid: Noon deadline approaches for Manchester coronavirus deal BBC News
• Covid-19: First UK airport coronavirus testing begins BBC News
• Covid; Wales told to stay home in circuit-breaker lockdown BBC News
• Daily coronavirus infection rates are higher in the UK, Europe, than in the US The Daily Mail
• Mass testing and a better contact tracing programme could slash UK's R rate in HALF, SAGE says The Daily Mail
• Operation Moonshot: pilot of rapid Covid tests under way in NHS hospitals The Guardian
• What are the rules of Wales's circuit breaker coronavirus lockdown? The Guardian
• Coronavirus: ‘Unlikely’ that vaccine will be able to completely stop spread of virus, says chief government scientist The Independent
• ‘Putting lives at risk’: Ministers deny coronavirus tests for care home inspectors The Independent

Cold-water swimming could delay dementia, research suggests

Cold-water swimming could delay dementia, research suggests Cold-water swimming could help to delay neuro-degenerative diseases such as dementia, research has suggested.

Academics at Cambridge University found that many of the cold-water swimmers they monitored at Parliament Hill Lido in London between 2016 and 2018 had increased levels of a “cold-shock” protein (RBM3), which a 2015 study on mice showed offered protection against the onset of dementia. The Independent

See also:

• Could cold water hold a clue to a dementia cure? BBC News

Boy who prompted law change on medicinal cannabis receives NHS prescription two years on

Boy who prompted law change on medicinal cannabis receives NHS prescription two years on Billy Caldwell, 15, will receive his first bottle of cannabis oil under the new care plan exactly two years after it was legalised. The Daily Telegraph

Second Covid-19 patient dies at Northampton General Hospital

Second Covid-19 patient dies at Northampton General Hospital NHS England has confirmed two Covid-19 patients died on the same day at Northampton General Hospital earlier this week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• ‘Tier 2 is virtually inevitable’: Leader of Northampton Borough Council on new lockdown system Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire is three weeks behind Liverpool as Covid-19 cases rise Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering secondary school confirms fourth coronavirus case Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton doctor suspended after arranging medical appointments on WhatsApp for a pregnant patient he met through Tinder

Northampton doctor suspended after arranging medical appointments on WhatsApp for a pregnant patient he met through Tinder A doctor has been suspended from his duties after he arranged medical appointments on WhatsApp for a patient he had previously met through Tinder. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mental health rehabilitation inpatient services: results from the 2019 information request

Mental health rehabilitation inpatient services: results from the 2019 information request This report raises concerns about the high number of beds situated a long way from the patient’s home, which could result in people becoming isolated from their friends and families and cut off from the local services that will provide care following discharge. It makes recommendations to improve the care for people in mental health rehabilitation inpatient services. Care Quality Commission

Assessment of mental health services in acute trusts programme: how are people’s mental health needs met in acute hospitals, and how can this be improved?

Assessment of mental health services in acute trusts programme: how are people’s mental health needs met in acute hospitals, and how can this be improved? This report reviews the findings from over 100 acute hospital inspections. It looks at how well people with mental health needs were cared for across emergency departments, acute medical wards, maternity wards, and children and young people’s services. It also tries to identify where trusts, and the wider system, needs to improve. Care Quality Commission

Resilient public services in an age of cyber threats

Resilient public services in an age of cyber threats This report makes recommendations for future cyber security policy. It finds that, while Covid-19 has accelerated the digitisation of public services in the UK, it also poses an increased cyber risk. It concludes that without sound infrastructure, investment in maintaining or updating that infrastructure, and a cyber-aware workforce, there is a threat of largescale damage both to the UK public sector and wider society. Reform

A telling experience: understanding the impact of Covid-19 on people who access care and support – a rapid evidence review with recommendations

A telling experience: understanding the impact of Covid-19 on people who access care and support – a rapid evidence review with recommendations This report aims to identify what worked well, and to highlight areas that people found difficult, both generally and in relation to social care during the first phase of the coronavirus pandemic, seen through the lens of personalisation. Think Local Act Personal

New measures to support roll-out of vaccines in the UK

New measures to support roll-out of vaccines in the UK New laws will allow more healthcare workers to administer flu and potential COVID-19 vaccines safely to the public. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid patients 'less likely to die than in April'

Covid patients 'less likely to die than in April' Coronavirus patients admitted to intensive care have a better chance of surviving now than they did in April, according to the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine.

But these gains levelled off over the summer, Dr Alison Pittard said.

The proportion of patients admitted to critical care who die fell by almost a quarter from the peak and as much as half in hospitals overall. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: What the tier rules say about the split between science and politics BBC News
• Covid: Row over regional rules 'damaging to public health', scientist warns BBC News
• Coronavirus: Higher ethnic death risk 'not linked to health' BBC News
• Is tracking down every super spreader the REAL key to beating Covid-19? The Daily Mail
• England's Covid-19 outbreak grows 64% in a week The Daily Mail
• Physios and paramedics will be trained to deliver flu and Covid-19 jabs The Daily Mail
• Ethnic minorities are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than white people because of poverty The Daily Mail
• Increase in Covid infections means Christmas will be 'tough' this year, Sage member warns The Daily Telegraph
• Covid: Greater Manchester running out of hospital beds, leak reveals The Guardian
• NHS Covid-19 app users sent incorrect risk-level change alerts The Guardian
• Midwives, physios and pharmacists to administer future UK Covid vaccine The Guardian
• Serco profits surge thanks to Covid-19 test-and-trace contract The Guardian
• 'Psychological PPE' is what Britain's health professionals urgently need now | Clare Gerada The Guardian
• UK coronavirus cases up nearly 17,000 in 24 hours, as deaths increase by 67 The Independent
• Coronavirus: Police to be given test-and-trace data to help enforce isolation rules The Independent

Endometriosis care needs urgent improvement, MPs say

Endometriosis care needs urgent improvement, MPs say Endometriosis care across the UK needs urgent improvement and diagnosis times need to be cut in half, a report by MPs says.

It found an average wait for a diagnosis was eight years and that has not improved in more than a decade.

Endometriosis affects one in 10 women in the UK and causes debilitating pain, very heavy periods and infertility. BBC News

Police 999 callouts to people suffering mental health crises soar

Police 999 callouts to people suffering mental health crises soar Two fifths of people in England waiting for NHS support end up calling emergency or crisis services.

The police are being called to deal with soaring numbers of incidents involving people suffering from mental health crises, sparking fresh concern about lack of NHS help for the mentally ill. The Guardian

NHS hospital admissions for eating disorders rise among ethnic minorities

NHS hospital admissions for eating disorders rise among ethnic minorities Faster increase among BAME people in England raises fears of cultural or racial factors

The number of hospital admissions for eating disorders is rising at a faster rate among people from ethnic minorities in England, prompting concerns that there may be cultural or racial factors driving them.

For white ethnicities, hospital admissions for eating disorders rose by just under a third (31%) across three years, whereas admissions among ethnic minorities rose by more than a half (53%), according to Guardian analysis of NHS data. The Guardian

New mothers need longer 'settling in' period at home before midwife visits, NICE warns

New mothers need longer 'settling in' period at home before midwife visits, NICE warns New mothers should be given a longer "settling in" period at home, as very early visits from midwives could lead to unfair assessments, warns new guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Parents should be allowed at least 12 hours alone with their baby after they leave hospital to ensure risk assessments carried out by midwives during the first postnatal visit accurately reflect their living situation, the independent body recommends. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Consultation: Postnatal care In development [GID-NG10070] NICE

Why won't councils re-open our public loos? 'Covid-says-no' attitude leaving many stranded at home

Why won't councils re-open our public loos? 'Covid-says-no' attitude leaving many stranded at home In June, the UK Government wrote to local councils explicitly stating that 'enabling access to toilets is vital' and gave detailed guidance, but it appears this has not been universally heeded. The Daily Mail

Hospitals say they are prepared for second wave of Covid-19 in Northamptonshire

Hospitals say they are prepared for second wave of Covid-19 in Northamptonshire The CEO of Northamptonshire's two main hospitals says he is concerned the Covid-19 second wave currently hitting parts of the UK is heading for the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Cystic fibrosis: Shielder, 24, hopes 'everyone is sensible' over Covid BBC Northampton
• First death of patient with Covid-19 for 73 days is confirmed at Northampton General Hospital Daventry Express
• NHS 111 services recorded eight times more children with coronavirus symptoms in Northamptonshire when schools reopened Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• One-year waiting list for routine treatment hits record high at Northampton General Hospital Trust due to pandemic Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Seventy four positive coronavirus cases reported today across Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Another Kettering secondary school confirms coronavirus cases Northamptonshire Telegraph

The Comprehensive Spending Review needs to be genuinely comprehensive: and that means investing in social care

The Comprehensive Spending Review needs to be genuinely comprehensive: and that means investing in social care The clue to what needs to happen in this year’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) is in the first word of its title. While some areas of public spending have been largely protected in the past decade, others, including local authorities and adult social care, have seen heavy cuts. As social care reels from the impact of Covid-19, it is time to redress some of that balance and make public spending more comprehensive, focusing not just on health services but on care, and not just on spending by national government but by local government too. The King's Fund

The bigger picture: learning from two decades of changing NHS care in England

The bigger picture: learning from two decades of changing NHS care in England This report looks back at how NHS care in England has changed over the last two decades. It finds a disconnect between the way services have developed and the changing health needs of the population. It finds that, while the volume of health care delivered grew substantially, growth varied significantly across different services. The Health Foundation

COVID-19 is magnifying inequalities and “risks turning fault lines into chasms” – focus now must be on shaping a health and care system that delivers for everyone

COVID-19 is magnifying inequalities and “risks turning fault lines into chasms” – focus now must be on shaping a health and care system that delivers for everyone The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England looks at the quality of care over the past year. This includes the period before the full impact of COVID-19 began to be felt and CQC’s routine inspections were suspended as a result of the pandemic.

See also:

• The King’s Fund response to Care Quality Commission's State of care report The King's Fund
• England's 'fragile' care sector needs immediate reform, says regulator The Guardian

How will Brexit affect the UK’s response to coronavirus?

How will Brexit affect the UK’s response to coronavirus? This briefing considers how leaving the single market might affect UK health and social care services in the short term as they try to deal with coronavirus while maintaining normal services. It also looks at what difference a deal might make, and the options that the UK and the EU have. Nuffield Trust

Day surgery for children and young people

Day surgery for children and young people This report highlights the specific needs of children and young people undergoing day surgery, outlining pre- and post-operative aspects of care and preparation, parental involvement and facilitating discharge. Royal College of Nursing

Heart failure: a blueprint for change

Heart failure: a blueprint for change This report reveals that prior to lockdown, UK hospital admissions for heart failure had risen by nearly a third over the last five years to more than 100,000 per year. It suggests that this could partly due to missed opportunities to diagnose and treat people with the condition before they become more unwell and need to be admitted to hospital. It concludes that disjointed and unequal care, likely exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, is leading to more people dying with heart failure. British Heart Foundation

Living with Covid-19

Living with Covid-19 A dynamic review of the evidence around ongoing Covid19 symptoms (often called Long Covid).

This rapid and dynamic review draws on the lived experience of patients and expert consensus as well as published evidence to better understand the impact of ongoing effects of Covid19, how health and social care services should respond, and what future research questions might be. National Institute for Health Research

Local COVID-19 alert level update: 15 October 2020

Local COVID-19 alert level update: 15 October 2020 The following areas will move from local COVID alert level: medium to local COVID alert level: high from Saturday. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: DCMO coronavirus briefing, situation report 14 to 15 October 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid restrictions: Matt Hancock says 'things will get worse before they get better'

Covid restrictions: Matt Hancock says 'things will get worse before they get better' The Health Secretary has announced that tougher Tier 2 Covid measures will come into force in London, Essex, York and other areas.

Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that the measures are "vital" to deal with the pandemic, and the decision to bring them in was made "with a heavy heart". BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Is Sweden getting it right? BBC News
• Circuit breaker lockdown: What is a circuit breaker? BBC News
• Coronavirus testing lab 'chaotic and dangerous', scientist claims BBC News
• Coronavirus: Remdesivir has 'little effect' on death risks, says WHO The Daily Mail
• AstraZeneca took ONE MONTH to give the FDA vaccine trial data after the study was paused The Daily Mail
• Test and Trace records another worst-ever performance as just 63% of contacts reached The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Agency staff are STILL working in multiple homes The Daily Mail
• Chinese coronavirus vaccine candidate safe, early results suggest The Daily Telegraph
• Leaking vials supplied for NHS test and trace, say whistleblowers The Guardian
• Liverpool Covid admissions will 'devastate' other hospital care The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Test and trace system ‘rendered ineffective’ by rate of infections, government scientific advisers believe The Independent
• Coronavirus: UK cases rise to 673,622, with 138 more deaths The Independent
• Exclusive: NHS in discussions with BMA and others around December Covid vaccine programme Pulse

Lack of mental health help: 'I felt nobody cares'

Lack of mental health help: 'I felt nobody cares' The number of under-18s getting NHS help for mental health issues in England nearly halved in the first two months of lockdown.

Young people who weren't able to get support say they felt like they "didn't really matter".

Lucy, who's 17, says she she didn't know where to go for help.

The number of people in England referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) dropped 47% in April and May, compared with last year. BBC News

Baby loss: 'Being a black woman the odds were stacked against me'

Baby loss: 'Being a black woman the odds were stacked against me' Genelle Aldred was 19 when her baby girl Sade-Rose was still born in 2002 and felt because of her age and ethnicity the "odds were stacked against her".

She believes racial bias within the maternity care sector played a role in her daughter's death as she was not listened to when she said she was not feeling well and saw seven midwives in one week.

According to research at Queen Mary's University Hospital in London, black babies are twice as likely to be stillborn compared to white babies. BBC News

Parents win six-year battle for truth after NHS 'cover-up' of son's death

Parents win six-year battle for truth after NHS 'cover-up' of son's death The parents of a three-year-old boy whose death was part of an alleged NHS cover-up have won a six year battle for the truth about how he died.

Shropshire coroner John Ellery backed the parents of three-year-old Jonnie Meek in a second inquest into his death on Thursday and rejected evidence from nurses about what happened at Stafford Hospital in August 2014. The Independent

Second Covid-19 death in six days is confirmed at Kettering General Hospital

Second Covid-19 death in six days is confirmed at Kettering General Hospital NHS England has confirmed a second Covid-19 patient has died at Kettering General Hospital in the space of six days. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Volunteer befriending phone line extended until April in Northamptonshire as 788 calls are made during pandemic

Volunteer befriending phone line extended until April in Northamptonshire as 788 calls are made during pandemic The welfare call service was supported by just three volunteers who make calls to patients and service users in need of emotional wellbeing support at the start of the pandemic.

Northamptonshire Healthcare's welfare call service has been extended to deliver befriending support in the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

It is time to put trust, transparency and fair value at the centre of digital health and care

It is time to put trust, transparency and fair value at the centre of digital health and care Health data has the potential to change health and care provision, but it also reveals some of the most personal information about ourselves. Emerging examples demonstrate a remarkable potential for data to give new insights that enable service improvements, such as better understanding the unmet need in universal childhood vision screening, enabling blood cancer treatment to be tailored, and training AI software potentially improving detection of eye disease. The King's Fund

England, Wales and Scotland among nations with highest death toll from pandemic

England, Wales and Scotland among nations with highest death toll from pandemic England, Wales and Scotland had among the highest rate of deaths from all causes, including COVID-19, as a result of the first wave of the pandemic.

This is the finding of an international study, led by Imperial College London

See also:

• Magnitude, demographics and dynamics of the effect of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on all-cause mortality in 21 industrialized countries (open access) Nature Medicine

Health equals wealth: the global longevity dividend

Health equals wealth: the global longevity dividend This report (launched ahead of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting) looks at the significant, and growing, economic contributions of older people across the G20. It argues that leveraging the economic contributions of older people will be instrumental in the global post-pandemic recovery, and that addressing health barriers to spending, working, caring and volunteering for longer can unlock a significant ‘longevity dividend’. The analysis finds that countries that spend more on health as a proportion of GDP see higher employment participation, volunteering, and spending by older people. Furthermore, increasing preventative health spending by just 0.1 per cent is associated with a nine per cent increase in annual spending by people aged 60 and over. International Longevity Centre UK

Guidance: COVID-19: reducing transmission – what you can do to help

Guidance: COVID-19: reducing transmission – what you can do to help Advice on how you can help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Public Health England

See also:

• Research and analysis: COVID-19: impact on vaccination programmes Public Health England

Covid: NHS staff testing 'dismantled' in virus hotspots

Covid: NHS staff testing 'dismantled' in virus hotspots A number of NHS trusts stood down in-house coronavirus testing for staff in the summer, ahead of a surge in virus cases, a health leaders' body says.

This followed assurances from government about the capacity of the centralised system, says NHS Providers.

But it left some staff, including in virus hotspots, unable to access testing when the national system came under strain earlier in the autumn. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Vaccine should be widely available ‘next year’ BBC News
• Covid: Two-week circuit breaker 'may halve deaths', report says BBC News
• Covid-19: Talks continue over new restrictions for parts of England BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Long Covid could be four different syndromes' BBC News
• London due to move from Covid Tier 1 to Tier 2 BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Infected to be sent from hospital back to care homes The Daily Mail
• NHS hospitals in England are cancelling operations to make way for a surge in coronavirus patients The Daily Mail
• PHE told peers on September 15 that UK 'on same trajectory as Germany' The Daily Mail
• What is a 'circuit breaker' lockdown, and how could it help curb rising Covid-19 cases? The Daily Telegraph
• NHS staff in northern England 'exhausted' amid second wave fears The Guardian
• Ministers and north of England leaders clash over further Covid restrictions The Guardian
• Hospitals battle coronavirus outbreaks as workforce shortages drive cancellation fears The Independent
• Second COVID wave will be '10 times harder' for the NHS, says CEO OnMedica

East Kent Hospitals: 'Toxic culture risks patients' lives'

East Kent Hospitals: 'Toxic culture risks patients' lives' A "toxic culture" at a troubled NHS trust is risking patients' lives, say several current and former staff.

Managers and medics have told BBC News that people are fearful of speaking up amid a bullying, blame culture at the East Kent Hospitals Trust. BBC News

Down's syndrome language: 'No-one meant anything hurtful"

Down's syndrome language: 'No-one meant anything hurtful' A mother of a young boy with Down's syndrome is helping to teach people about appropriate language. BBC News

NHS trust apologises after dementia patient, 77, was 'restrained on 19 occasions at hospital

NHS trust apologises after dementia patient, 77, was 'restrained on 19 occasions at hospital An NHS trust has apologised unreservedly to a patient and his family amid accusations that he was restrained on 19 occasions so staff could forcibly treat him.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said care for the man 'fell far short' of what patients should expect. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Kent NHS trust apologises after patient was forcibly restrained by staff 19 times ITV News

Pleas to Northamptonshire residents to 'play their part' as Covid restrictions remain unchanged

 Pleas to Northamptonshire residents to 'play their part' as Covid restrictions remain unchanged ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should’ says Northamptonshire’s top Public Health boss following lockdown announcement.

As the country enters the next phase of tackling coronavirus with a new lockdown system, the message from the local health authority is clear. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• The government has launched a new postcode checker for coronavirus restrictions - how to use it Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Vulnerable people don’t need to go back to shielding yet - this is the updated advice based on the tier where you live Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Children told to self-isolate after Covid case at Barton Seagrave school Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Finedon club to pay penalty after two Covid breaches Northamptonshire Telegraph

How should general practice be preparing for winter?

How should general practice be preparing for winter? In the early days of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the call to 'protect the NHS' was very much focused on preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. As we enter winter facing a second wave of the pandemic, ensuring the hospital system is resilient enough to endure another crisis will be key. But as we’ve said before, NHS resilience is so much more than hospital beds. The King's Fund

State of the nation 2020: children and young people’s wellbeing

State of the nation 2020: children and young people’s wellbeing This report collates published evidence on the wellbeing in children and young people over the period of March to August 2020, including: statistics on the personal wellbeing of children and young people in England and the UK; a wider set of indicators on their; relationships; health; education and skills; personal finance; activities; and where they live. Department for Education

Stories of shielding: life in the pandemic for those with health and care needs

Stories of shielding: life in the pandemic for those with health and care needs When lockdown began, Local Voices created a digital platform - Our Covid Voices - for people with health and care needs to share their experiences of the impact of the the pandemic. This provided the unfiltered views and stories from people at great risk of all the effects of the pandemic, including anxiety, uncertainty and changes to their care. Also their relationships, their jobs and dealing with the everyday aspects of life in the pandemic. This report is a compliation of the contributions to help inform any decisions taken in the future regarding the way their needs are addressed. National Voices

Levelling up communities

Levelling up communities The Covid Recovery Commission was formed in July 2020. The independent Commission brings together some of the UK’s most prominent business figures and entrepreneurs. The Commission will release three short papers before the end of 2020 and a final report in February 2021.

This first report presents the Commission’s initial analysis on how inequality impacts on individuals, neighbourhoods and communities right across the UK and how these inequalities have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It argues that a new approach to levelling up is needed to tackle these inequalities. This should focus on local impacts and use a comprehensive strategy, wider than simply rebalancing economic fortunes, to ensure the UK economy and society is fairer post-Covid-19, than it was before.

Cutting-edge treatments to be fast-tracked to patients through international collaborations

Cutting-edge treatments to be fast-tracked to patients through international collaborations The UK will join the USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore and Brazil to speed up the approval of innovative medicines. Department of Health and Social Care

Clinically extremely vulnerable receive updated advice tailored to local COVID alert levels

Clinically extremely vulnerable receive updated advice tailored to local COVID alert levels Clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will receive new guidance to help them reduce their risk from coronavirus, tailored to where they live. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19 surveillance Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England

Covid-19: New three-tier restrictions come into force in England

Covid-19: New three-tier restrictions come into force in England The new three-tier system of Covid-19 restrictions has begun in England.

Most of the country is in the lowest tier - medium - but millions of people in the North and the Midlands face extra curbs on households mixing.

The Liverpool region is the only area to be under the toughest rules, with pubs and bars not serving meals closed. BBC News

See also:

• Covid Sage documents: What was the evidence and what happened? BBC News
• Shielding not needed yet, despite rising Covid rate BBC News
• Covid 19: Care home visitor scheme to be piloted in England BBC News
• Coronavirus: Patient has sudden permanent hearing loss BBC News
• Trial to test if Vitamin D protects against Covid BBC News
• Covid-19 deaths continue to creep up with 321 victims in England and Wales last week The Daily Mail
• What the SAGE scientists REALLY told Boris Johnson: 10pm pubs curfew won't work The Daily Mail
• Just 2% of Britons are getting Covid-19 test results within a day, data shows The Daily Mail
• Up to ONE-THIRD of people believe unproven theories that the coronavirus was made in a Chinese lab The Daily Mail
• What has gone wrong with England's Covid test-and-trace system? The Guardian
• 'Operation Moonshot': doubts over UK's Covid test ambitions after trial scaled back The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Surge in UK cases makes decision on Oxford vaccine more likely before end of year, says trial director The Independent
• Coronavirus: Liverpool intensive care units '90% full' as city braces for second wave The Independent
• Winter pressures and Covid surge 'causing concern' for NHS staff ITV News

NHS app updated to 'fix' phantom messages

NHS app updated to 'fix' phantom messages The NHS Covid-19 app has been updated to fix an issue with confusing alerts that pop up suggesting exposure to the virus and then disappear.

Users have complained that the notifications are scary and confusing. BBC News

Migrants denied NHS care for average of 37 weeks, research finds

Migrants denied NHS care for average of 37 weeks, research finds Report finds hospital charged destitute anti-FGM campaigner with brain tumour £8,397 for initial treatment

Migrants who need NHS care are being denied treatment for an average of 37 weeks, despite suffering from conditions such as cancer, heart problems or kidney failure, according to research.

One in three end up waiting between six and 12 months, some face even longer delays and in one case a woman with a serious heart complaint could not access care for more than four years, a report found. The Guardian

Parents shocked to learn of maternity failings at ‘inadequate’ hospital unit

 Parents shocked to learn of maternity failings at ‘inadequate’ hospital unit The parents of a baby boy who suffered brain damage at a maternity unit criticised by regulators say they fear more babies could have been harmed.

Basildon University Hospital’s maternity services were rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in August after inspectors identified a cluster of babies who were starved of oxygen during birth and put at risk of brain damage. The Independent

Let's give Boris' three-tier scheme time to see if it works, says Northamptonshire's Public Health chief

 Let's give Boris' three-tier scheme time to see if it works, says Northamptonshire's Public Health chief Northamptonshire's Public Health chief says it's time to stick not twist over the latest Covid-19 restrictions...for now.

The county is rated "medium risk" — the lowest — in Boris Johnson's three-tier system announced on Monday with national restrictions and recommendations staying the same. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Government reveals which tier Northamptonshire falls into on new Covid alert levels Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Two siblings test positive for Covid-19 at South Northamptonshire school Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid-19 case at Irthlingborough school Northamptonshire Telegraph
• How the three-tier alert system will work across England Northamptonshire Telegraph

New state-of-the-art medical centre to open next month in Brackley

New state-of-the-art medical centre to open next month in Brackley Brackley Medical Centre and Community Hospital in Wellington Road will include a GP surgery featuring 16 consulting and treatment rooms and a dedicated urgent care unit. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Reducing health inequalities for people living with frailty: a resource for commissioners, service providers and health, care and support staff

Reducing health inequalities for people living with frailty: a resource for commissioners, service providers and health, care and support staff This report aims to share practical recommendations and examples of how commissioners, service providers and health, care and support staff can overcome barriers to health care for people at greater risk of frailty, including people experiencing deprivation, people who are homeless, people experiencing substance misuse, people with learning disabilities, LGBT people, people with mental health needs, people from Gypsy and Traveller communities, and vulnerable migrants.

It offers insights on how services can work in collaborative, holistic and inclusive ways to reduce health inequalities for people living with frailty, and offer patients the support needed to manage the condition long-term. Friends, Families and Travellers

Avoidable natural deaths in prison custody: putting things right

Avoidable natural deaths in prison custody: putting things right This report, written in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing, sets out proposals to reduce the number of preventable natural deaths in prisons. It identifies how natural deaths occurring in prison might be prevented, where possible, and end of life care managed with dignity and compassion. Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody

World Menopause Day 2020

World Menopause Day 2020 Access our resources to promote understanding of menopause in the workplace.

World Menopause Day takes place 18 October 2020.

Studies have shown that menopause symptoms can have a significant impact on attendance and performance in the workplace, which makes menopause not just a female issue, but an organisational issue.

With just under one million women working in the NHS, reducing the stigma attached to the menopause is vital so that more people will talk openly about it. NHS Employers

PM Commons statement on coronavirus: 12 October 2020

PM Commons statement on coronavirus: 12 October 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus to the House of Commons. Prime Minister's Office

See also:

• Detailed guide: Local COVID alert levels: what you need to know Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Local COVID Alert Level: Very High Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Local COVID Alert level: High Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Local COVID Alert level: Medium Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Statutory guidance: Local authority powers to impose restrictions under coronavirus regulations Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Sage scientists called for short lockdown weeks ago

Covid: Sage scientists called for short lockdown weeks ago The government's scientific advisers called for a short lockdown in England to halt the spread of Covid-19 last month, newly released documents show.

The experts said an immediate "circuit breaker" was the best way to control cases, at a meeting on 21 September.

Labour called the document "alarming" but No 10 says it took "robust" action. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Are we still listening to the science? BBC News
• Coronavirus: What is the Covid tier lockdown system in England? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Ethnic-minority vaccine volunteers needed BBC News
• Coronavirus: WHO head calls herd immunity approach 'immoral' BBC News
• Covid care: 'It is very serious and it is very real' BBC News
• The dogs trained to sniff out Covid-19 BBC News
• US pauses Covid vaccine trial due to ill volunteer BBC News
• Professor Jonathan Van-Tam: North of England never squashed Covid-19 outbreak properly The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: 13,972 new cases and 50 deaths as daily toll rises The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 infection rates at universities are up to SEVEN TIMES higher than in local cities The Daily Mail
• UK Covid-19 cases and deaths: how the UK is coping with a second wave The Daily Telegraph
• Ministers told weeks ago to impose short lockdown or face 'large epidemic' The Guardian
• Boris Johnson’s latest Covid strategy: no hope and no end in sight The Guardian
• Liverpool hospitals cut back on operations to cope with Covid-19 rise The Guardian
• Analysis: Can hospitals cope with a second wave of Covid-19? The Independent
• Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine trial paused after participant’s ‘unexplained illness’ The Independent

Covid reinfection: Man gets Covid twice and second hit 'more severe'

Covid reinfection: Man gets Covid twice and second hit 'more severe' A man in the United States has caught Covid twice, with the second infection becoming far more dangerous than the first, doctors report.

The 25-year-old needed hospital treatment after his lungs could not get enough oxygen into his body.

Reinfections remain rare and he has now recovered. BBC News

See also:

• Genomic evidence for reinfection with SARS-CoV-2: a case study (open access) Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Nevada man, 25, contracted coronavirus twice in 48 days and was SICKER during his second bout The Daily Mail
• Man caught Covid-19 twice and second infection 'was more severe' The Daily Telegraph
• Despite the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus, cases of reinfection aren’t what they seem The Independent

Royal award for Emma at Northampton General Hospital after training 120 volunteers during pandemic - Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Royal award for Emma at Northampton General Hospital after training 120 volunteers during pandemic Within ten days, Emma Wimpress worked tirelessly to advertise, interview and get 120 new volunteers supporting doctors and nurses in the fight against coronavirus. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020: Every person in Northamptonshire to receive an award from Her Majesty Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Fewer begin cancer treatment than pre-pandemic at Northampton General Hospital Trust

Fewer begin cancer treatment than pre-pandemic at Northampton General Hospital Trust Far fewer patients started treatment for cancer at Northampton General Hospital Trust in August compared to the same time last year, new figures reveal. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Research on understanding LGBT employee networks published

Research on understanding LGBT employee networks published New research published by the University of York sets out key findings and recommendations following a three-year study on how LGBT+ employee networks operate within the NHS. NHS Employers

Building a resilient state: a collection of essays

Building a resilient state: a collection of essays The Covid-19 pandemic has placed a huge strain on the state, and while the response has demonstrated some of the great strengths of our public services and machinery of government, it has also exposed some of the biggest flaws. As an introduction to Reform's new ‘Resilient State’ programme, this collection of essays brings together insight and expertise from across the political spectrum to explore different aspects of a resilient state. The series aims to provide a platform for innovative ideas, to stimulate debate, and help shape a way forward. Reform

Power down to level up: resilient place-shaping for a post-Covid age

Power down to level up: resilient place-shaping for a post-Covid age This report draws on case studies and analysis to argue that an effective case for refocusing UK governance on place must overcome entrenched orthodoxies about where local capacity lies, the nature of power in the modern state, and how policy success is best measured. Local Government Information Unit

Providers deliver: resilient and resourceful through Covid-19

Providers deliver: resilient and resourceful through Covid-19 This report showcases eight examples of great ideas put into action by trusts through the dedication and ingenuity of staff. One of the main themes in the report is the value of staff empowerment, where trust leaders support ideas and approaches developed within their workforce. Other themes such as innovation and collaboration also emerge. NHS Providers

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam's Op-Ed

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam's Op-Ed Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam outlines the current Covid-19 situation.

In our national fight against Covid-19, we are at a tipping point similar to where we were in March; but we can prevent history repeating itself if we all act now. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Effect of pandemic on children's wellbeing revealed in new report Department of Health and Social Care
• Largest testing study for coronavirus publishes latest findings Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: October 2020 results Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Pressure building in UK hospitals

Covid: Pressure building in UK hospitals NHS Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate are being asked to get ready to take patients.

Government advisers say admissions are rising, with more elderly people needing urgent treatment for Covid.

More people are now in hospital with Covid than before restrictions were announced in March.

It comes as a new three-tier system of lockdown rules for England is due to be announced. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: NHS 'determined' to keep non-Covid services running BBC News
• Covid: Second national lockdown possible, says top UK scientist BBC News
• Covid-19 virus 'survives on some surfaces for 28 days' BBC News
• Covid: What is the mental health cost to the young? BBC News
• Covid: South Asian hospital patients 'at greater risk of dying' BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson to start 'three-tier' lockdown TODAY The Daily Mail
• White people have driven spiralling cases of Covid-19 cases over the past fortnight, data reveals The Daily Mail
• Government buys 1 million pin prick Covid-19 tests which 'don't work' The Daily Mail
• Hospital bosses urge NHS England to drop 'unfair' fines as Covid admissions rise The Guardian
• Whitehall told to release secret 2016 files on UK pandemic risks The Guardian
• Herd immunity letter signed by fake experts including 'Dr Johnny Bananas' The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Refuse Covid patients if you can’t stop spread of virus, care homes told The Independent

Flu jab 'essential' for pregnant women this winter

Flu jab 'essential' for pregnant women this winter All pregnant women are being advised to get a flu jab as soon as possible to protect their babies and themselves.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) say the free vaccination is particularly important this year because of Covid-19.

Influenza is dangerous to people who are pregnant and can be deadly. BBC News

How is the plan for 48 hospitals going?

How is the plan for 48 hospitals going? Boris Johnson said in his virtual conference speech: "This government is pressing on with its plan for 48 hospitals. Count them. That's eight already under way and then 40 more between now and 2030."

This is an upgrade of the "40 new hospitals" pledge Mr Johnson made during the election campaign in 2019 - a claim we examined last December.

So, how is the hospital-building plan progressing? BBC News

Do Not Resuscitate orders to be reviewed after being used on patients during first wave of coronavirus without consent

Do Not Resuscitate orders to be reviewed after being used on patients during first wave of coronavirus without consent An investigation has been launched into allegations of the blanket use of "Do not resuscitate" orders in England during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic.

Concerns have been raised that blanket orders were applied to some groups - such as residents in some care homes - as the NHS faced the first peak of Covid-19.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it is proceeding with the review "at pace". The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• CQC to review use of DNACPR during pandemic Care Quality Commission
• Do-not-resuscitate order: blanket use reviewed BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: CQC will probe use of 'do not resuscitate' orders in care homes The Daily Mail
• Inquiry begins into blanket use in England of Covid 'do not resuscitate' orders The Guardian

Covid coughing link 'may be stopping people with lung cancer coming forward'

Covid coughing link 'may be stopping people with lung cancer coming forward' Referrals currently at 60% of pre-pandemic levels, figures from Cancer Research UK show.

The link between coughing and Covid-19 could be stopping people with lung cancer from seeking medical attention, experts have said.

According to figures from Cancer Research UK, about 350,000 fewer people than normal received urgent suspected cancer referrals across all cancers since the end of March, while 3 million people have missed out on cancer screening. The Guardian