'I needed to fix myself for my kids': breaking the cycle of domestic abuse

'I needed to fix myself for my kids': breaking the cycle of domestic abuse Families with complicated lives are being helped by a project that supports both parents during their child’s first two years

When Jess was 11 weeks pregnant, she got into an argument with her boyfriend, Robbie, who lashed out and hit her. Jess had suffered a previous miscarriage and was terrified of losing another baby. The Guardian

Ninth Covid-19 patient dies at Northampton General Hospital during 'second wave' of pandemic

Ninth Covid-19 patient dies at Northampton General Hospital during 'second wave' of pandemic NHS England confirmed another patient who had tested positive for Covid-19 has died at Northampton General Hospital.

Figures revealed in a daily bulletin showed the fatality at the Cliftonville site on Friday (October 23). That takes the total to nine at NGH since a 'second wave' of the pandemic began to hit the the county and cases started rising sharply last month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire councils given below-average £14.48 per person in new emergency coronavirus government grants Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Which areas of Northamptonshire saw biggest rises in Covid-19 cases in the last week Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Tier 4 Covid restrictions could be brought in if infection rates don’t drop - the rules explained Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton student wins Nurse of the Year award in the learning disabilities category

 Northampton student wins Nurse of the Year award in the learning disabilities category Northampton University student, Lauretta Ofulue, was one of this year’s Student Nursing Times Award winners who were revealed today (October 27) during an online virtual awards ceremony. Northamptonshire Telegraph

590 people’s stories of hospital during Covid-19

590 people’s stories of hospital during Covid-19 In partnership with British Red Cross, this report reviews the experiences of 590 people after being discharged from hospital. The research shows significant numbers of people are not receiving follow-up support under new policy to switch to a ‘discharge to assess’ model in March 2020 (introduced to cope with demand at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic), leading to unmet needs. It calls on the NHS to address these issues coming into the busy winter period amidst growing pressures of a second Covid-19 wave. Healthwatch

Is there a doctor in the house? Averting a post-pandemic staffing crisis in the NHS

Is there a doctor in the house? Averting a post-pandemic staffing crisis in the NHS The UK ranks 27th out of 36 OECD countries for number of physicians, and around 30 per cent of doctors on GP and specialist registers are over 55 years old. The UK relies more heavily on foreign-trained physicians than comparable countries – but within a decade it could become increasingly difficult to meet demand this way. While population growth and ageing have increased demand for doctors, such demographic factors could mean a staffing crisis is on the horizon. This briefing suggests a range of cost-effective solutions to plug doctor shortages once the Covid-19 crisis has passed. Institute of Economic Affairs

An avoidable crisis: the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities

An avoidable crisis: the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities The Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, appointed Baroness Doreen Lawrence to lead this review into how those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were being impacted by Covid-19. The report makes both immediate and long-term recommendations to protect those most at risk and tackle structural inequalities in several key areas including the machinery of government, health, employment and in the education system. Labour Party

Largest COVID-19 antibody testing programme publishes findings on antibody response over time

Largest COVID-19 antibody testing programme publishes findings on antibody response over time Findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show the number of people with antibodies fell by 26.5% over 3 months. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Declining prevalence of antibody positivity to SARS-CoV-2: a community study of 365,000 adults (open access preprint) Imperial College London
• Official Statistics: REACT-2: real-time assessment of community transmission – antibody waning Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus antibody prevalence falling in England, REACT study shows Imperial College London
• Covid: Antibodies 'fall rapidly after infection' BBC News
• Just 4% of England has antibodies now, government study finds The Daily Mail

Covid: How busy are hospitals as the second wave rolls in?

Covid: How busy are hospitals as the second wave rolls in? The second wave is placing an ever greater toll on UK hospitals. There are more than 1,000 Covid admissions a day - 10 times the rate at the end of summer.

Hospitals have started cancelling routine treatments, as happened during the first peak, with hospitals in Leeds this week following others in announcing some treatments will have to stop.

But just how busy is the NHS? And how much Covid can it take? BBC News

See also:

• Covid has thrived on racial discrimination, says Baroness Doreen Lawrence BBC News
• Coronavirus: Europe's daily deaths rise by nearly 40% compared with last week - WHO BBC News
• Syria: Inside a refugee camp where Covid is spreading BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: 367 deaths and 21,331 new cases in daily toll The Daily Mail
• Britain's Covid-19 deaths rise by 55% in a week with 761 victims recorded in latest seven-day spell The Daily Mail
• Eli Lilly ends antibody drug trial early after it failed to help patients recover The Daily Mail
• Self-isolation row as No10 confirms it IS looking at halving it to SEVEN days The Daily Mail
• 10,000 people a day could receive false positives in Operation Moonshot, researchers say The Daily Telegraph
• Seven months of Covid: reflections from healthcare workers in England The Guardian
• Dashboard designed to chart England's Covid-19 response finds major gaps in data The Guardian
• NHS hospital forced to postpone cancer operations as Covid spreads on wards The Independent
• First coronavirus vaccines 'may not prevent infection', UK task force head warns The Independent
• Coronavirus: Government throwing ‘lit match into a haystack’ by discharging Covid patients to care homes The Independent

Don't hold home firework displays, urge doctors

Don't hold home firework displays, urge doctors Plastic surgeons fear there will be a big increase in injuries from DIY firework displays this November.

Public events have been cancelled due to Covid, meaning many people may decide to host their own Diwali and bonfire night displays at home. BBC News

See also:

• BAPRAS urges caution regarding firework displays at home British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons

Therapy patients blackmailed for cash after clinic data breach

Therapy patients blackmailed for cash after clinic data breach Many patients of a large psychotherapy clinic in Finland have been contacted individually by a blackmailer, after their data was stolen.

The data appears to have included personal identification records and notes about what was discussed in therapy sessions. BBC News

After scandals like Winterbourne View, why is basic decency still remarkable?

After scandals like Winterbourne View, why is basic decency still remarkable? Children with learning disabilities and their families need support that is kind, compassionate and thoughtful

In late July 2019, I tweeted asking families with autistic or learning disabled children to share their experience of “sparkling” actions by health and social care professionals. I was writing a book about how professionals could make a difference in the lives of children and their families, and the manuscript was woefully negative. The Guardian

High court condemns lack of provisions in UK for suicidal teenager

High court condemns lack of provisions in UK for suicidal teenager Judge forced to send 16-year-old girl to unregulated placement due to lack of available NHS psychiatric intensive care beds

Not a single secure bed was available anywhere in the UK last week for a suicidal teenager, according to a high court ruling that highlights the chronic shortage of accommodation to support the country’s most vulnerable children. The Guardian

We are still at a "tipping point" over rise in Covid-19 cases, warns Northamptonshire health boss

We are still at a "tipping point" over rise in Covid-19 cases, warns Northamptonshire health boss Official figures will show 785 Northamptonshire residents tested positive with Covid-19 in a single week when the county council and Public Health officials hold their weekly press briefing on Friday.

Data from October 12 to October 18 October shows the latest spike in cases, up from 701 the week before. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• NHS tells hospitals not to cancel operations this winter unless 'absolutely unavoidable' The Daily Mail
• Government could put Northampton into tier two within 24 hours despite reluctance, warns council leader Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Police issue six fines in three days after bus users found without masks in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton Labour group raises concerns over shared homes as coronavirus cases rise Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public Health chief prompts Northampton school children and parents to meet in parks and not friend's houses during half term Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public health chief reminds Northamptonshire parents "if we don’t mix, we don’t spread" Covid-19 Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Eighteen Covid-19 in-patients at KGH as hospital boss says numbers are 'well below' first wave peak Northamptonshire Telegraph
• There's 63 Northants people who knew they had Covid-19 but won't tell test and tracers who they might have passed it on to Northamptonshire Telegraph

Health service use in the last two years of life

Health service use in the last two years of life This series of reports describe the health services that patients use in the last two years of their lives. Reports are available for the Midlands region as a whole and for each of the 11 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships or Integrated Care Systems in the region. The reports contain important insights into: how the patterns of service use change as patients approach death; differences in experience by ethnicity, deprivation and cause of death; the costs of hospital treatment at the end of life and how this varies by STP; levels of non-beneficial treatments; and the additional hospital capacity that may be required to accommodate the projected increase in deaths over the next decade. The Strategy Unit

RCEM outlines actions needed to tackle ‘dangerous’ crowding as it returns to A&Es

RCEM outlines actions needed to tackle ‘dangerous’ crowding as it returns to A&Es The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has called for action after a survey found that over half of A&Es across the UK are caring for patients in corridors due to a lack of beds.

See also:

• RCEM CARES during the coronavirus pandemic The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• What to do if your ED is becoming crowded again after the initial COVID period The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• Three-quarters of A&Es unable to maintain social distancing due to overcrowding The Guardian

Almost half of UK women do not check their breasts regularly for signs of breast cancer

Almost half of UK women do not check their breasts regularly for signs of breast cancer Almost half (47%) of women in the UK do not check their breasts regularly for potential signs of breast cancer.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now, one in 10 women have ‘never checked their breasts for new or unusual changes’. Meanwhile, a fifth (19%) of women check their breasts ‘once every six months or less’, while 13% do this ‘once a year or less’.

Asked what stops or prevents them from checking their breasts more regularly, almost half (46%) of women said they ‘forget’. This is concerning when most cases of the disease are detected because women have spotted new or unusual changes to their breasts.

See also:

• Almost half of British women do not self-examine for breast cancer The Guardian

Emergency contraception, coronavirus, and confidentiality: a mystery shop of pharmacy access during the pandemic

Emergency contraception, coronavirus, and confidentiality: a mystery shop of pharmacy access during the pandemic This briefing finds that one third of pharmacies are unable to provide emergency contraception in a confidential and Covid-secure way due to current licensing restrictions. It calls for emergency contraception to be reclassified by the Secretary of State for Health as a general sales list medication which would enable women to purchase this safe and effective medication directly from the shelf, without placing their health or confidentiality at risk during the pandemic. British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Independent report: Independent review of NHS hospital food

Independent report: Independent review of NHS hospital food Findings and recommendations of the independent review of NHS hospital food. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

Press release: New blueprint for better hospital food Department of Health and Social Care

Prue Leith: NHS can serve 'delicious' food on a budget BBC News

NHS staff 'ashamed' they can't serve good food to patients The Daily Telegraph 

Quarterly report on progress to address Covid-19 health inequalities

Quarterly report on progress to address Covid-19 health inequalities This report summarises the work undertaken by the Minister for Equalities and government departments on Covid-19 disparities. The current evidence shows that a range of socioeconomic and geographical factors such as occupational exposure, population density, household composition and pre-existing health conditions contribute to the higher infection and mortality rates for ethnic minority groups, but a part of the excess risk remains unexplained for some groups. Race Disparity Unit

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Public Health England

See also:

• Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person Public Health England

Coronavirus: 14-day quarantine for Covid contacts could be reduced

Coronavirus: 14-day quarantine for Covid contacts could be reduced The two-week quarantine period for contacts of those who test positive for Covid-19 could be cut to 10 or seven days, amid criticism of Test and Trace. 

Writing in the Telegraph, Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said a "vacuum of leadership in Test and Trace" was affecting compliance.

Tests could be offered to people after a week of isolation, the paper said. BBC News 

See also:

• Coronavirus doctor's diary: 'We blame Eat Out To Help Out for our tragedy'  BBC News
• Covid nurse: 'I thought I wasn't going to make it'  BBC News
• Covid: The NHS workers 'still recovering' as second wave looms BBC News
• Coronavirus: Inside Europe’s most infected area BBC News
• Boots to offer 12-minute Covid nasal swab test BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Oxford vaccine works perfectly by safely triggering an immune response The Daily Mail
• Covid risk factors for ethnic minorities 'can't be changed overnight' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: SAGE warns against letting young 'go back to normal' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Seven NHS trusts treat more patients than in April The Daily Mail
• US coronavirus cases hit record high as Donald Trump promises to 'quickly end' the pandemic The Daily Telegraph
• NHS short of over £1bn for Covid second wave and onset of winter The Guardian
• NHS denies elderly people were refused care during early Covid The Guardian
• NHS short of over £1bn for Covid second wave and onset of winter The Guardian
• Neil Ferguson says easing Covid rules for Christmas is 'a political judgment' The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Mounting fears over burnout among NHS staff as second wave intensifies The Independent 
• NHS staff put on standby for Covid-19 vaccine scheme 'in weeks' as jab safety stamp imminent iNews

Mother and baby units: 'It's our job to keep them safe'

Mother and baby units: 'It's our job to keep them safe' "Women may be suicidal or want to die. They may have thoughts about harming their baby. It's our job to keep them safe until they can keep themselves safe," says Debbie Sells.

She manages a mother-and-baby unit in Nottingham which supports a small group of new mothers and pregnant women with serious psychological problems. BBC News

Down's syndrome: 'In all honesty we were offered 15 terminations'

Down's syndrome: 'In all honesty we were offered 15 terminations' Ninety per cent of women whose unborn babies are diagnosed with Down's syndrome choose to have an abortion, which is legal right up until birth. But campaigners say expectant parents are routinely given outdated advice and encouraged to have a termination. We hear from three mothers who want the system to change. BBC News

Mass cancellations of NHS operations inevitable this winter, say doctors

Mass cancellations of NHS operations inevitable this winter, say doctors Exclusive: NHS England criticised for ordering ‘near-normal’ non-Covid care during pandemic

Mass cancellations of routine operations in England are inevitable this autumn and winter despite an NHS edict that hospitals must not again disrupt normal care, doctors’ leaders have said.

Organisations representing frontline doctors, including the British Medical Association (BMA), also criticised NHS England for ordering hospitals to provide “near normal” levels of non-Covid care in the second wave of the pandemic, and demanded that fines for failing to meet targets be scrapped. The Guardian

NHS bosses accuse Boris Johnson of 'structural discrimination' against mental health

NHS bosses accuse Boris Johnson of 'structural discrimination' against mental health PM ‘more interested in shiny new hospitals’ than tackling mounting toll of psychological problems

NHS bosses have accused Boris Johnson of “structural discrimination” against mental health and ignoring the huge psychological damage being wreaked by the pandemic.

A decade of progress on mental illness has come to a halt under a prime minister who seems more interested in building “shiny new hospitals” than tackling the mounting toll of debilitating ill-health, they say. The Guardian

Four more deaths among patients who tested positive for Covid-19 at Northampton General Hospital

Four more deaths among patients who tested positive for Covid-19 at Northampton General Hospital NHS England confirmed four more patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have died within the last week at Northampton General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Maternity boss at Northampton General Hospital explains why birth partner restrictions at scans remain in place Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton to host one of 14 plasma donation centres to help coronavirus patients Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Work with us', pleads East Northants health boss as Covid cases rise Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chart of the week: The number of medicines that were hard to access grew during the first national lockdown

 Chart of the week: The number of medicines that were hard to access grew during the first national lockdown Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. This week, Miranda Davies considers the difficult issue of the NHS's ability to get hold of basic drugs for patients who need them - and how the pandemic may be affecting this. Nuffield Trust

RCP survey uncovers years of discrimination against black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors

RCP survey uncovers years of discrimination against black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors are consistently disadvantaged when applying for jobs, according to the RCP’s latest survey of clinicians within a year of medical certificate completion of training (CCT) holders.

The RCP analysed data from 8 years’ worth of annual surveys reporting on the experiences of, and outcomes for, clinicians within a year of passing their CCT. The findings provide consistent evidence of trainees from BAME background being less successful at consultant interview. Royal College of Physicians

See also:

• Medical CCT class of 2018: 2019 survey results Royal College of Physicians
• Racial discrimination widespread in NHS job offers, says report The Guardian

The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment

The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment There is a growing body of research on the links between volunteering and wellbeing. This review and accompanying briefing  (co-published with Spirit of 2012, and in partnership with the Institute of Volunteer Research) brings together the most relevant studies. It focuses on the experience of adult formal volunteers, and looks at the key factors involved in improving wellbeing through volunteering. What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Patients not passports: learning from the international struggle for universal healthcare

Patients not passports: learning from the international struggle for universal healthcare This report focuses on the set of policies introduced as part of the government’s Hostile Environment immigration policies – which restrict access to public services and criminalise everyday activities – to expand border enforcement into the NHS and restrict access to healthcare. To understand what might happen if the government continues to restrict access to healthcare in this way, the report explores what can be learned from international practice, describing levels of migrant access to healthcare across Europe and the impact of different policies and practices. New Economics Foundation

Children and young people’s mental health review: findings from a questionnaire to health and wellbeing boards on local actions

Children and young people’s mental health review: findings from a questionnaire to health and wellbeing boards on local actions This report  contains an update on work carried out in 2018 looking at the quality of mental health services for children and young people, as well as the access to these services. It sets out the findings of a 2019 independent follow-up self-assessment questionnaire, to find out the extent to which health and wellbeing board areas in England had progressed with implementing the local recommendations made. Care Quality Commission

Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020: Wave 1 follow up to the 2017 survey

Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020: Wave 1 follow up to the 2017 survey This is the first in a series of follow up reports to the Mental Health and Young People Survey (MHCYP) 2017, exploring the mental health of children and young people in July 2020, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and changes since 2017. Experiences of family life, education and services, and worries and anxieties during the COVID-19 pandemic are also examined. NHS Digital

See also:

• Response to NHS figures on children’s mental health Children's Commissioner
• Survey presents a worrying picture of children's and young people’s mental health The Health Foundation
• Lockdown made life worse for two in five children, NHS report says BBC News
• One in six children aged 5-16 in England 'likely to have a mental disorder' The Guardian
• 'Scarred for life': Sage experts warn of impact of Covid policies on the young The Guardian
• Figures lay bare toll of pandemic on UK children's mental health The Guardian 

Workforce flexibility in the NHS: utilising Covid-19 innovations

Workforce flexibility in the NHS: utilising Covid-19 innovations This briefing argues that speed at which workforce innovations and flexibilities have been implemented in the NHS since the outbreak of Covid-19 has been both impressive and encouraging. It explores and makes recommendations on six key areas of change: staff wellbeing; flexibility in staff deployment and roles; cross-organisational working and regulation; technology; making use of new roles; and funding. NHS Providers

Over 13,700 more nurses working in the NHS

Over 13,700 more nurses working in the NHS The number of nurses in the NHS in England increased by 13,718 compared with last year, and the number of doctors has risen by 7,810, figures to the end of July show. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS workforce shortages still a big risk even as nursing numbers grow NHS Employers

Sewage signals early warning of coronavirus outbreaks

Sewage signals early warning of coronavirus outbreaks Government-led programme is providing an early warning of coronavirus outbreaks by monitoring sewage and sharing data with NHS Test & Trace. 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
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid: Why is coronavirus so deadly?

Covid: Why is coronavirus so deadly? A simple virus has brought life as we know it to a screeching halt.
 
We have faced viral threats before, including pandemics, yet the world does not shut down for every new infection or flu season.

So what is it about this coronavirus? What are the quirks of its biology that pose a unique threat to our bodies and our lives? BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Sewage sites to test for traces of virus BBC News
• Covid: US gives full approval for antiviral remdesivir drug BBC News
• Wales 'fire break' lockdown: what are the new rules? The Daily Telegraph
• Sweden loosens Covid lockdown rules for elderly and vulnerable due to mental health impact of lockdown The Daily Telegraph
• Study finds that plasma of recovered Covid-19 patients is of limited use as a treatment The Daily Telegraph
• 'It has been a trauma': nurses on 'shambolic' 111 Covid-19 clinical service The Guardian
• Nightingale to reopen as Liverpool sets new Covid patient record The Guardian
• England test and trace reaching fewer Covid contacts than ever The Guardian
• Room for improvement with test and trace, says Patrick Vallance – video The Guardian
• NHS leak reveals true impact of coronavirus second wave on hospitals The Independent
• Coronavirus: More than half of British public don’t ‘fully understand’ current rules The Independent

The experts who created a new form of PPE to restart surgery for deaf children

 The experts who created a new form of PPE to restart surgery for deaf children With so many operations put on hold when the pandemic started in March, surgeon Douglas Hartley and a team of medical veterans got to work pioneering new types of protective equipment. The Independent

Number of coronavirus patients in Northants hospitals rising quickly as county cases soar

 Number of coronavirus patients in Northants hospitals rising quickly as county cases soar The number of Covid-19 patients being admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals is rising fast, leading health bosses to warn other services could come under threat if covid admissions continue to rise. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19: Northamptonshire schools close and 3,500 pupils sent home BBC Northampton
• Third death in one day confirmed among Covid-19 patients at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public Health Northamptonshire has ‘no plans’ to shut more schools after string of closures announced Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• University of Northampton makes care packages for isolating students Northamptonshire Telegraph

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