Covid-19 deaths must prompt better healthcare for people with learning disabilities

Covid-19 deaths must prompt better healthcare for people with learning disabilities The government, NHS and health and social care providers must act to tackle health inequalities
People with learning disabilities are much more likely to die from coronavirus. And black and Asian people with learning disabilities are even more likely to die from coronavirus.

This isn’t because the virus targets people with learning disabilities. It is because society fails to do enough to support the health and wellbeing of those at the sharp end of structural and health inequalities. The Guardian

Millions of public sector workers face pay freeze in wake of coronavirus pandemic

Millions of public sector workers face pay freeze in wake of coronavirus pandemic Millions of public sector workers face a pay freeze next year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce the move during a government spending review next week as part of efforts to plug the hole left in the nation’s finances by the Covid-19 crisis. The Independent

See also:

• Millions of public sector workers face pay freeze BBC News
• New UK spending row as Rishi Sunak puts squeeze on public sector salaries The Guardian

'You'll end up in court' warning to those ignoring Covid fines in Northamptonshire

 'You'll end up in court' warning to those ignoring Covid fines in Northamptonshire Police say anyone ignoring Covid-19 fines in Northamptonshire will end up in court if they don't pay.

Officers issued 371 fixed penalty notices between March and September to people going out during lockdown, not wearing face coverings and gathering in large numbers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire teachers told to turn off Test and Trace apps, claims union Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton gym trust's social impact programmes 'at risk' due to second lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid infection rates compared across England as cases continue to rise - where is worst affected? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire Police press on with £10k Traveller funeral fine after legal wrangle stalls plan to punish organisers Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Feather in our cap' as KGH gets top award

'Feather in our cap' as KGH gets top award Kettering General Hospital has been given a top award for the way it collects information about joint replacement surgery.

The Rothwell Road hospital has been awarded the National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider certificate for the scrupulous way it it gathers and submits information to support a national safety system for joint replacements. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Management of the long-term effects of COVID-19

Management of the long-term effects of COVID-19 A survey of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) members in September 2020 showed 67% of those who responded were looking after at least one patient with ongoing symptoms of COVID-19 lasting more than 12 weeks. The RCGP have published their response and top tips for caring for patients.

New antibiotic-resistant infections rise to 178 per day in England

New antibiotic-resistant infections rise to 178 per day in England Antimicrobial resistance remains a serious threat to the health of people in England, with 178 AMR infections diagnosed each day, according to a Public Health England report.

Expanded study tests immune response of care home staff and residents

Expanded study tests immune response of care home staff and residents An expansion of the current Vivaldi study will test thousands more care home staff and residents for their immune response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research and analysis: Evaluating detection of SARS-CoV-2: AntiBodies at Home study Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Public Health England

Covid: Oxford vaccine shows 'encouraging' immune response in older adults

Covid: Oxford vaccine shows 'encouraging' immune response in older adults The Oxford coronavirus vaccine shows a strong immune response in adults in their 60s and 70s, raising hopes that it can protect age groups most at risk from the virus.

Researchers say the Lancet phase two findings, based on 560 healthy adult volunteers, are "encouraging".

They are also testing whether the vaccine stops people developing Covid-19 in larger, phase three trials. BBC News

See also:

• Care home welcomes visitors after pilot covid test scheme BBC News
• Christmas CAN be saved from Covid but New Year lockdown advisable The Daily Mail
• Britons vaccinated against Covid 'may get QR codes on their mobile phones' The Daily Mail
• Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Q&A: what do the results show so far, and what happens next? The Daily Telegraph
• UK health experts discuss relaxing Covid rules for Christmas – video The Guardian
• NHS assembles army of staff for mass coronavirus vaccinations The Guardian
• Poor areas of England face 'permanent' lockdown, says public health chief The Guardian
• 30,000 volunteers sought to deliver Covid vaccine across England The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS must get the Pfizer vaccine where it is needed - and fast Sky News

Quarter of UK home care operators face going bust

Quarter of UK home care operators face going bust More than a quarter of UK home care providers risk going out of business, research for the BBC suggests.

A study by business analysts for Radio 4's You and Yours programme found 715 of the 2,731 home care operators in the UK are in danger of closure.

The sector has combined debts in excess of £100m. BBC News

See also:

• UK care home bosses seek extra £500m for Christmas Covid measures The Guardian

Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice'

Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice' A BBC News investigation has uncovered failures in the diagnosis of serious medical issues during private baby scans.

More than 200 studios across the UK now sell ultrasound scans, with hundreds of thousands being carried out each year.

But the BBC has found evidence of women not being told about serious conditions and abnormalities.

NHS whistleblower speaks out on PPE contracts as PM faces criticism

NHS whistleblower speaks out on PPE contracts as PM faces criticism Our health and social care editor Victoria Macdonald has been speaking to a whistleblower who describes what went on behind the scenes in the rush to acquire enough personal protective equipment (PPE) – when the rest of the world was scrambling to do exactly the same thing. Channel 4 News

Hospital trust accused of risking lives after raising patient-to-nurse ratio to dangerously high levels

Hospital trust accused of risking lives after raising patient-to-nurse ratio to dangerously high levels A hospital trust in Bristol has been accused of risking lives after raising its patient-to-nurse ward ratio to dangerously high levels, having allegedly dismissed staff concerns and national guidance on safe staffing. The Independent

Four BILLION people worldwide will be overweight by 2050, report predicts

Four BILLION people worldwide will be overweight by 2050, report predicts In a matter of three decades, nearly half of the world's population (45%) will be obese, and 16% will be overweight, while food waste surges in wealthy nations, new Potsdam Institute research predicts. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The ongoing nutrition transition thwarts long-term targets for food security, public health and environmental protection (open access) Scientific Reports
• Starved, stuffed and squandered: New study reveals consequences of decades of global nutrition transition Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Health chief's fears for over-60s after four more coronavirus deaths in Northamptonshire

Health chief's fears for over-60s after four more coronavirus deaths in Northamptonshire We are seeing patients in hospital who were fit and well before they caught Covid, says county director.

Four more coronavirus deaths have today been confirmed at Northamptonshire's two main hospitals and in county care homes. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Northampton dorm rooms a 'Covid-secure' solution for town's homeless BBC Northampton
• A stricter post-lockdown tier system could be decided for England next week Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton car wash fined after continuing to operate during lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering school sends whole year group home to self-isolate after third Covid case Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Coronavirus pandemic 'may have reversed progress on lung cancer survival' in Northamptonshire, experts fear Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS urges people with mental health worries to seek help

NHS urges people with mental health worries to seek help People with mental health worries are being urged to seek help in a new phase of the NHS’s Help Us Help You campaign.

Although mental health services have been running throughout the pandemic there was a marked dip in referrals despite evidence that coronavirus is making problems more common. NHS England

Investigation into government procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Investigation into government procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic The National Audit Office (NAO) reports a lack of transparency and adequate documentation of some key decisions, such as why particular suppliers were chosen or how government identified and managed potential conflicts of interest, in the awarding of some contracts while government was procuring large volumes of goods and services at high speed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some contracts were also awarded after work had already begun, and many were not published in the timeframe they should have been. 

See also:

• Covid spending: Watchdog finds MPs' contacts were given priority BBC News
• Lord Feldman: Department of Health adviser's firm took work from Covid company BBC News
• PPE suppliers with political ties given 'high-priority' status, report reveals The Guardian
• 'No documentation, no justification': NAO criticism of Covid contracts The Guardian
• Businessman was paid £21m of taxpayer cash for securing NHS PPE The Guardian

New film shows importance of ventilation to reduce spread of COVID-19

New film shows importance of ventilation to reduce spread of COVID-19 New short film released by the government shows how coronavirus lingers in enclosed spaces, and how to keep your home ventilated. Department of Health and Social Care 

 

See also:

• NHS launches 40 ‘long COVID’ clinics to tackle persistent symptoms NHS England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: comparison of geographic allocation of cases in England by lower tier local authority Public Health England

More than 70,000 excess deaths during the pandemic

More than 70,000 excess deaths during the pandemic Rising numbers of Covid-19 deaths have pushed the total number of UK deaths further above the expected level for this time of year.

2,225 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered in the week of 6 November, up by 628 in a week.

Deaths registered for any reason were 15% above the level expected at this time of year. BBC News

See also:

• Covid vaccine: Pfizer says it's '94% effective in over 65s' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Doctors spell out how to exit England's lockdown BBC News
• Too early for Christmas Covid rules, says minister BBC News
• Coronavirus: Head of NHS Test and Trace Dido Harding self-isolating BBC News
• Covid: Thousands of cases relocated in England in data change BBC News
• Coronavirus: What are the EU coronavirus schemes? BBC News
• Doctors and nurses were not prepared to see 'so much illness and death' during Covid pandemic The Daily Mail
• UK 'may have paid TWICE as much as the US' for Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine The Daily Mail
• Has a five-day delay ruined England's second lockdown? The Daily Mail
• Chinese Covid vaccine appears safe and provokes immune response, says study The Daily Telegraph
• Call to protect UK doctors from prosecution over life-or-death Covid rationing The Guardian
• Vaccinating patients against Covid will be a mammoth task for GPs like me | Zara Aziz The Guardian
• Number of global daily Covid deaths hits new record The Independent
• Immunity against coronavirus lasts at least eight months, new study finds The Independent

Lockdown plus autumn sends loneliness soaring

Lockdown plus autumn sends loneliness soaring The week after the clocks went back saw Britain's highest levels of loneliness since the pandemic began, according to Office for National Statistics figures.

The start of November, with darker evenings, had 4.2 million adults always or often lonely, compared with 2.6 million before the pandemic.

This was the peak in levels of acute loneliness since the lockdown in March. BBC News

See also:

• Lockdown loneliness advice from a 91-year-old BBC News

Suicide bereavement: 'Just reach out to us'

Suicide bereavement: 'Just reach out to us' Dr Sharon McDonnell and colleagues at Manchester University have carried out the largest ever survey of suicide bereaved families in the UK. 

More than 7,000 people responded, and the results show a third have suffered from mental health problems, and have considered taking their own lives.

Dr McDonnell began researching the subject after losing her brother in 1990, going on to earn a PhD despite leaving school with no qualifications. BBC News

Lesbian couple demand equal fertility treatment from NHS

Lesbian couple demand equal fertility treatment from NHS They just want to become mothers, but say they’re being discriminated against because of their sexuality.

YouTube stars Megan and Whitney have launched a campaign demanding equal fertility treatment – after they were told they’d have to pay up to £30,000 to a private clinic before they could get any help from the NHS. Channel 4 News

Northampton councillor shares his severe battle with Covid-19 in hospital

Northampton councillor shares his severe battle with Covid-19 in hospital A Northampton councillor has implored residents to follow Government guidelines after sharing his own battle against Covid-19 in hospital. 

Talavera ward councillor Dennis Meredith has revealed he is now recovering after fighting the virus for several weeks in and out of Northampton General. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northampton additional needs school closes for two weeks after whole senior leadership team tests positive for Covid Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• The UK has bought 5m doses of the new Moderna Covid vaccine - here’s everything you need to know about it Northamptonshire Telegraph

Council to run four Northamptonshire care homes nine years earlier than costly and controversial PFI contract planned

Council to run four Northamptonshire care homes nine years earlier than costly and controversial PFI contract planned The management of four care homes in Northamptonshire is being taken over by the council nine years earlier than a controversial PFI contract planned. Northamptonshire Telegraph

What does the future hold for digital health and care? Eight key technologies explained

What does the future hold for digital health and care? Eight key technologies explained The Covid-19 pandemic has seen many health and care services turn to digital technology to continue meeting patients’ needs. But beyond remote consultations, what are the key technologies to look out for in the future? We explain eight key innovations and their potential to transform health and care delivery. The King's Fund

Fears for maternity as staffing shortages hit safety and morale

Fears for maternity as staffing shortages hit safety and morale The safety of maternity services is under serious threat, according to a new survey by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). The survey found that eight out of 10 midwives (83%) do not believe their NHS Trust or Board has enough staff to operate a safe service. Services are already stretched almost to breaking point, with 42% reporting that half of shifts are understaffed, and a third saying there are very significant gaps in most shifts.

See also:

• More than 75% of NHS midwives think staffing levels unsafe, says RCM The Guardian

Restoring services: NHS activity tracker November 2020

Restoring services: NHS activity tracker November 2020 This briefing highlights detailed examples of the innovations trusts and their staff are developing to improve capacity, respond to unmet demand despite the constraints created by Covid-19, and the need to prepare for additional winter pressures. NHS Providers

Mental health for all?

Mental health for all? This final report of the Commission finds that mental health inequalities mirror wider economic and social inequalities. Wealth and power inequalities put at risk the mental health of people experiencing poverty, racial injustice and discrimination. This creates sharp social divisions, meaning that many groups of people face two or three times the risk of mental ill health. Yet the same groups of people find it harder to get help for their mental health, and in some cases also get poorer outcomes when they do. This report highlights, however, that effective action is possible. It sets out what a system designed for equality would look like, and how communities, local organisations, public services and national government can work together to generate change at scale. Commission for Equality in Mental Health

Government secures 5 million doses of Moderna vaccine

Government secures 5 million doses of Moderna vaccine The UK government has completed negotiations with biotech company Moderna to secure access to 5 million doses of its promising vaccine, enough for around 2.5 million people. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 16 November 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Government response: UK government’s response to Moderna’s publication of efficacy data for its COVID-19 vaccine Department of Health and Social Care
• Pilot for family members to get regular testing for safer care home visits Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: comparison of geographic allocation of cases in England by lower tier local authority Public Health England

Moderna: Covid vaccine shows nearly 95% protection

Moderna: Covid vaccine shows nearly 95% protection A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows. 

The results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, and add to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic.

Both companies used a highly innovative and experimental approach to designing their vaccines. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Visitor tests in all care homes in England 'by Christmas' BBC News
• WHO worried young people won't want Covid vaccine BBC News
• Coronavirus: Dentists warn millions of treatments have been missed BBC News
• £100 billion Operation Moonshot will 'fail miserably because the tests are poor' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: UK scientist says risk of reinfection is 'low' but people should still be cautious The Daily Mail
• UK Covid-19 cases and deaths: how the UK is coping with a second wave The Daily Telegraph
• Covid vaccine: Volunteers with no medical experience will be trained to give out jab The Daily Telegraph
• Mothers needlessly separated from babies under UK hospital Covid rules The Guardian
• Care homes pour cold water on Hancock's visitor-testing promise The Guardian
• Operation Moonshot 'like building Channel tunnel without civil engineers' The Guardian
• Covid: England's tiers 'need strengthening to get through winter' The Guardian
• Coronavirus: NHS publishes guidance for COVID-19 app glitch on iPhones Sky News

'How I learned to love my stoma'

'How I learned to love my stoma' A woman who had an ileostomy bag fitted has been documenting her life on social media in a bid to inspire others. 

Sarah Smith, who has ulcerative colitis, was fitted with the bag following emergency surgery in 2019.

The 31-year-old, from Wigston in Leicestershire, said after living in pain for years she now felt happy and healthy and wanted to help people who have stomas feel better about their bodies. BBC News

'Diabetes burnout': The mental-health impact of diagnosis

'Diabetes burnout': The mental-health impact of diagnosis "It's a full-time job that you can't quit. It's a massive burden that you didn't ask for, didn't expect."

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 19, Naomi, now 33, says she reached a point where she simply could not handle "the physical or mental challenges of diabetes any more", a condition known as "diabetes burnout". BBC News

See also:

• Diabetes: My baby saved my life BBC News

The welfare system is failing those with mental health problems

 The welfare system is failing those with mental health problems Mental health is a growing concern, with up to one in two people now thought to experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. Many working-age adults experience problems like depression, anxiety, phobias or PTSD, which are worsened by unemployment. Yet there are striking discrepancies between UK welfare policy and the actual experience of benefit claimants with mental health problems. The Independent 

Hancock refuses to promise pay rise for NHS staff

Hancock refuses to promise pay rise for NHS staff Health secretary Matt Hancock has refused to guarantee a post-Covid pay rise for NHS staff.

Mr Hancock was speaking in response to a question from The Independent at a 10 Downing Street press conference on the coronavirus crisis.

Period poverty has surged in UK during Covid pandemic

Period poverty has surged in UK during Covid pandemic Charity supplying six times as many menstrual products compared with before crisis

Period poverty has increased sharply in the UK since the coronavirus crisis began, according to a charity that says it is supplying almost six times as many menstrual products compared with before the pandemic started.

Bloody Good Period (BGP) has been supplying food banks, community support groups, those fleeing domestic violence, asylum seekers and refugees, homeless shelters and even NHS frontline workers. The Guardian

Northamptonshire hospitals face double whammy of staff shortages and rising Covid cases

Northamptonshire hospitals face double whammy of staff shortages and rising Covid cases Nearly 300 NHS workers told to stay at home as virus patients occcupy 10% of beds.

Hospitals are starting to facing a double whammy of pressure as the number of Covid-19 cases in the county rises.

Public Health England has revealed 785 lab-confirmed positive virus tests in the county in the last three days. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire hospitals see 16 coronavirus deaths in eight days Daventry Express
• Public Health chief warns picture is "very stark" after another record rise in Northamptonshire's coronavirus cases Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Nearly two in five close contacts still not being reached by test and trace regime in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton university students could be offered Covid tests before returning home for Christmas Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• KGH staff told 'actions needed now' as patient numbers rise Northamptonshire Telegraph
• More than a dozen Northamptonshire Police officers have tested positive for Covid-19 since the pandemic began Northamptonshire Telegraph

St Andrew’s Hospital responds to union’s threat of taking action over redundancy pay changes

St Andrew’s Hospital responds to union’s threat of taking action over redundancy pay changes Union claimed changes were being made with consultation...but the hospital denies claims and has now doubled redundancy pay for those who earn the least. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Recruitment begins for two new hospital CEOs as Northampton and Kettering move closer to 'group model'

Recruitment begins for two new hospital CEOs as Northampton and Kettering move closer to 'group model' As Northamptonshire’s hospitals move closer to a ‘group model’ two new CEOs are being recruited.

Following the recruitment of the first group chief executive officer, Simon Weldon, earlier this year, Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital are looking for a ‘hospital CEO’ to run each site. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Time to bring our care workers in from the cold

Time to bring our care workers in from the cold A new report published by Age UK shows how tough life has been for care workers during the pandemic. The report, ‘Time to bring our care workers in from the cold’, highlights the extent to which care workers have often had to put their own health and financial worries at the bottom of the pile while battling to keep the virus at bay and their clients safe and well. It looks at staff shortages and levels of pay within the care workforce calls for pay equalisation with the NHS.

Delays to intrapartum intervention once fetal compromise is suspected

Delays to intrapartum intervention once fetal compromise is suspected This report aimed to dentify improvements in maternity care to help reduce the risk of delays in crucial interventions during labour when a baby is suspected to be unwell. It was compiled after a review of 289 maternity investigations into intrapartum stillbirths, neonatal deaths and potential severe brain injuries. In 14.9 per cent of cases the delay was a contributory factor. The review identified issues such as inadequate staffing, poor infrastructure and high workload as contributory factors to the delays. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

A critical juncture for public services: lessons from COVID-19

A critical juncture for public services: lessons from COVID-19 This report discusses lessons to be learned from the pandemic and recommends a number of principles to transform public service delivery. It finds that decisions were made much more quickly and concludes that many public service providers and councils developed “remarkable innovations” to meet the Covid-19 challenge. However the Committee raise concerns about public service provision during the pandemic for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, homeless people, and people with complex needs. House of Lords Public Services Committee 

People with learning disabilities had higher death rate from COVID-19

People with learning disabilities had higher death rate from COVID-19 The report, Deaths of people identified as having learning disabilities with COVID-19 in England in the Spring of 2020 examined data from The English Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) and NHS England’s COVID-19 Patient Notification System (CPNS) which records deaths in hospital settings. 

It found 451 per 100,000 people registered as having a learning disability died with COVID-19 between 21 March and 5 June, a death rate 4.1 times higher than the general population after adjusting for other factors such as age and sex. Public Health England

See also:

• Covid: Learning disability death rates 'six times higher' BBC News

Two new megalabs to open in 2021 to transform the UK’s diagnostic facilities

Two new megalabs to open in 2021 to transform the UK’s diagnostic facilities The labs in Leamington Spa and Scotland will add 600,000 to the UK's daily testing capacity when operating at full capacity, meaning faster turnaround times for test results. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Pilot for family members to get regular testing for safer care home visits Department of Health and Social Care
• Open consultation: Stopping movement of staff between care settings Department of Health and Social Care
• Latest findings from COVID-19 study published Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: October 2020 final results Department of Health and Social Care
• More than 2 million people reached by NHS Test and Trace Department of Health and Social Care

Covid vaccine: Major new trial starts in UK

Covid vaccine: Major new trial starts in UK A major trial of a vaccine to protect against Covid-19 has launched in the UK - the third such trial in the country.

The jab - designed by the Belgian company Janssen - uses a genetically modified common cold virus to train the immune system.

It comes a week after preliminary results showed another vaccine offered 90% protection. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Next two weeks 'crucial' for ending lockdown BBC News
• 'Covid-19: Normal life back next winter, says vaccine creator BBC News
• Coronavirus: Safety officials had 'political' pressure' to approve PPE BBC News
• Covid: Children more likely to be infected in second wave BBC News
• Coronavirus: Patients face long waits for hospital ops in England BBC News
• Covid: Care home visitors to trial regular testing BBC News
• Covid-19: Labour calls for law to stop anti-vaccination fake news online BBC News
• Why does COVID-19 kill some people and spare others? The Daily Mail
• Schools are to blame for more than a thousand outbreaks of coronavirus since September The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: PPE 'is STILL being denied to some NHS workers' despite huge stockpiles The Daily Mail
• Don’t put key workers at end of the Covid vaccine queue, warn UK unions The Guardian
• Covid vaccines in the UK: who is in charge, and what is the plan? The Guardian
• NHS needs extra £4bn next year because of Covid, Rishi Sunak told The Guardian
• England's test and trace system hit by 'huge' IT problems last month The Guardian
• Better, smarter, local response systems are the only way to avoid further lockdowns The Guardian
• ‘A long and difficult slog’: Chris Whitty predicts hardest winter for NHS in recent memory The Independent
• Specialist ‘long Covid’ clinics to be launched across England The Independent
• Covid UK deaths up by 462 over 24 hours The Independent
• COVID-19: Boris Johnson self-isolating after meeting with MP who tested positive for coronavirus Sky News

Most statin problems caused by mysterious 'nocebo effect', study suggests

Most statin problems caused by mysterious 'nocebo effect', study suggests Most of the debilitating effects of statins are not caused by the drug, but by people believing it will make them sick, a UK study suggests.

The phenomenon is known as the "nocebo effect" and may account for 90% of the ill health associated with the cholesterol-lowering drugs. 

The British Heart Foundation said the results were undeniable. BBC News

See also:

• N-of-1 Trial of a Statin, Placebo, or No Treatment to Assess Side Effects (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine

Medical ‘advances’ of 2020 could transform future healthcare, leading experts say

Medical ‘advances’ of 2020 could transform future healthcare, leading experts say The technology used to develop the Pfizer vaccine could be used to tackle illnesses such as cancer and other infectious diseases similar to Covid-19, leading health experts have said, raising hopes that humanity can take a major scientific “leap forward” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Oncologists, vaccinologists, biomedical engineers and doctors have all told The Independent that the technological advancements seen throughout 2020 could come to have a “profound” impact on the future provision of care for patients suffering from a variety of conditions.

Heart disease deaths soar in England during Covid pandemic

Heart disease deaths soar in England during Covid pandemic Almost 5,000 more people in England have died from heart problems than would be expected since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a charity has said. 

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said there had been 4,622 “excess deaths” from heart and circulatory diseases between the start of the pandemic and mid-October. The Guardian

Thousands of NHS staff face a 'disgusting' 200 per cent hike in hospital parking fees

Thousands of NHS staff face a 'disgusting' 200 per cent hike in hospital parking fees Thousands of NHS staff will be hit with ‘disgusting’ hikes for their hospital car parking, making a mockery of Ministers’ temporary free parking pledge, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. 

An internal document leaked to this newspaper shows the cost of annual parking permits will go up by 200 per cent for NHS workers at one of the UK’s biggest trusts, with new permits costing up to £1,440.

NHS confirms six coronavirus deaths in Northamptonshire hospitals

NHS confirms six coronavirus deaths in Northamptonshire hospitals Six more coronavirus deaths have today been confirmed at Northamptonshire's two main hospitals.

NHS England included the information in Tuesday's daily bulletin that four patients died at Northampton General Hospital on between Sunday and Tuesday this week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Areas of Northamptonshire where coronavirus cases are among the LOWEST in the country Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 11 of the largest lockdown fines issued by police - and what they were for Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• The NHS has been told to prepare for mass Covid vaccinations from 1 December Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby special educational needs school shuts after Covid case Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby secondary school confirms coronavirus case Northamptonshire Telegraph

Ward evacuated at Northampton General Hospital after roof fire

Ward evacuated at Northampton General Hospital after roof fire Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service scrambled to Northampton General Hospital Wednesday morning. 

It comes as the fire service received reports over the accident and emergency department roof being on fire at 10.15am. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Elective care in England: assessing the impact of Covid-19 and where next

Elective care in England: assessing the impact of Covid-19 and where next This briefing shows there were 4.7 million fewer people referred for routine hospital care – such as hip, knee and cataract surgery – between January and August 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, representing a potential hidden backlog of unmet care needs. The Health Foundation

Nursing and midwifery workforce numbers continue to grow as concern around the long term impact of Covid-19 remains

Nursing and midwifery workforce numbers continue to grow as concern around the long term impact of Covid-19 remains Latest mid-year figures out today (Thursday 12 November) from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reveal the number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on its permanent register has grown by 7,909 to 724,516 between 1 April and 30 September - an increase of 1.1 percent.

See also:

• The pandemic is creating problems for continued future growth of nursing numbers Nuffield Trust

Saving a lost decade: how a new deal for public health can help build a healthier nation

Saving a lost decade: how a new deal for public health can help build a healthier nation This report reveals the wider consequences of inaction on health improvement and prevention. It argues that the decision to remove health protection functions from Public Health England to a new National Institute for Health Protection presents an opportunity to reimagine and design a better public health system. Policy Exchange

Early evidence of the development of primary care networks in England: a rapid evaluation study

Early evidence of the development of primary care networks in England: a rapid evaluation study Primary care networks are groups of general practices brought together in July 2019 to develop new services in response to NHS England/Improvement policy using a shared budget. This report examined the early implementation of primary care networks, especially what has helped or hindered progress, how they operate in relation to pre-existing collaborations, and issues for rural networks. National Institute for Health Research

Human rights of Black people not equally protected, say Committee

Human rights of Black people not equally protected, say Committee The Joint Committee on Human Rights have published their Report “Black People, Racism and Human Rights”, which concludes that the Government must urgently take action to protect the human rights of Black people, including within healthcare, criminal justice, nationality and immigration and democracy.

The Committee have now concluded that the Government, NHS and police must now take action to end the stark inequalities in the protection of human rights of the Black community.

See also:

• 60% of black people feel they're treated unequally by NHS, says report Metro

Oxford University and PHE confirm high-sensitivity of lateral flow tests

Oxford University and PHE confirm high-sensitivity of lateral flow tests Extensive clinical evaluation shows lateral flow tests are accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community, including for asymptomatic people. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity  Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: deaths of people with learning disabilities Public Health England

Hospitals install pop-up Covid-19 isolation bays

Hospitals install pop-up Covid-19 isolation bays Six NHS Trusts across England are fitting pop-up isolation rooms in their hospitals.

Royal Derby Hospital, part of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, has just installed 25 of the pop-up bays in their medical assessment unit, to separate patients until they receive the results of a Covid-19 test.

The temporary rooms which are stored in a compact wheeled cart, can be erected in around five minutes to provide an individual room to isolate patients. BBC News

See also:

• Black and Asian people at greater risk from Covid, study finds BBC News
• Students in Leicester take part in rapid coronavirus test  BBC News
• Covid vaccine: 'No decision' on under 50s vaccine plan BBC News
• Russian Covid vaccine shows encouraging results BBC News
• 'These are repurposed bin bags': Fury of NHS workers given flimsy plastic sheets instead of proper PPE to protect against second wave of Covid The Daily Mail
• Two thirds of COVID-19 survivors have symptoms 7 weeks later The Daily Mail
• No10 'nudge' unit suggests paper wristbands for those Covid-negative The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Death toll tops 50,000 with 595 new victims The Daily Mail
• NHS told to prepare for Covid mass vaccinations from December 1 The Daily Telegraph
• How will a coronavirus vaccine be rolled out to the UK population? The Guardian
• NHS to vaccinate up to 5,000 people a day in Covid immunisation drive The Guardian
• Antibody tests bought by UK government 'less accurate than maker claims' The Guardian
• Oxford coronavirus vaccine expected to be easier to roll out than Pfizer jab The Independent
• Covid patients ‘head to toe’ on trolleys in A&E spark warnings over ‘lethal’ situation The Independent
• Pfizer vaccine: Over 80% of doses already sold to world’s richest countries The Independent
• NHS worker quits to become figurehead for Covid conspiracy movement Metro

Instagram: New tools to ban self-harm and suicide posts

Instagram: New tools to ban self-harm and suicide posts Instagram has launched new technology to recognise self-harm and suicide content on its app in the UK and Europe.

The new tools can identify both images and words that break its rules on harmful posts.

It will make posts less visible in the app and, in extreme cases, remove it automatically. BBC News

Large outbreaks of diseases such as flu likely when social distancing ends, study shows

Large outbreaks of diseases such as flu likely when social distancing ends, study shows Large outbreaks of diseases such as flu could emerge once Covid-19 measures like social distancing end, a study from Princeton University has suggested.

Researchers said that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as mask wearing and social distancing, which were introduced to reduce the spread of Covid-19, had also lowered the incidence of illnesses including seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The Independent

See also:

• The impact of COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions on the future dynamics of endemic infections (open access) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Cheshire hospital baby deaths: Nurse to appear in court charged with eight counts of murder

Cheshire hospital baby deaths: Nurse to appear in court charged with eight counts of murder A nurse is due in court charged with eight counts of murder following an investigation into baby deaths at a hospital in Cheshire.

Lucy Letby, 30, was arrested for a third time on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the Countess of Chester Hospital, which began in 2017.

Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, also faces 10 charges of attempted murder relating to the period of June 2015 to June 2016. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Chester hospital baby deaths: Nurse Lucy Letby due in court BBC News
• Lucy Letby: Nurse due in court charged with murdering eight babies at Chester hospital The Independent

Northamptonshire health chief's fresh lockdown plea after record rise in Covid-19 cases

Northamptonshire health chief's fresh lockdown plea after record rise in Covid-19 cases Health chiefs issued a fresh plea to make the lockdown count after Northamptonshire saw another record number of positive Covid-19 tests.

Labs confirmed more than 100 positive swabs in a single day in Northampton for the first time since the pandemic began. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Joe Rooney funeral: £10k fine for 'blatant disregard' of rules BBC Northampton
• Covid-19 in the East of England: Panel answer your questions live BBC News
• NHS confirms three more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Three areas of Northampton where Covid-19 cases are among highest in the country Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Fine for shopper not wearing face covering at Rushden supermarket Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering funeral organisers to be fined £10,000 for breaching lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph

Climate change and sustainability: the health service and net zero

Climate change and sustainability: the health service and net zero This report states that with the NHS contributing up to five per cent of the UK’s total carbon emissions, increased sustainability and changes to working practices are vital if the health of future generations is to be protected. The health service has a responsibility to its patients to reduce its own carbon footprint and to strive for net zero emissions, if it is to take a leading role in combatting the harmful effects of climate change. British Medical Association

Covid-19 insights: impact on staff and priorities for recovery

Covid-19 insights: impact on staff and priorities for recovery This report reveals the extensive mental and physical health impact on the NHS, health and care professionals across the UK, as a result of working and living through Covid-19, and identifies organisational priorities for recovery, both as the country enters the next phase of the pandemic and for the longer-term. Skills for Health 

Guidance on workload prioritisation during Covid-19 pandemic level rising

Guidance on workload prioritisation during Covid-19 pandemic level rising This guidance reflects the increasing prevalence of Covid-19 around the country, to support GPs and their teams in making local decisions based on local circumstances. Royal College of General Practitioners 

COVID-19 report reveals massive hit to the North’s health and economy

COVID-19 report reveals massive hit to the North’s health and economy The North of England’s economy has been hit harder than the rest of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic with inequalities between the North and the rest of the country exacerbated, according to a report launched today. 

The Northern Health Science Alliance, NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (North East and North Cumbria, Greater Manchester, North West Coast, Yorkshire and Humber), and the NIHR School of Public Health Research report COVID-19 and the Northern Powerhouse: Tackling Health Inequalities for UK Health and Productivity looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the health and economic inequalities between the Northern Powerhouse and the rest of England.

It has found the pandemic hit the North harder and more deeply and that mitigating measures must be put in place to stop inequalities rising further and faster.

See also:

• Coronavirus: Northern England 'worst hit' by pandemic BBC News

Research and analysis: Antibiotic use and resistance: what the public know

Research and analysis: Antibiotic use and resistance: what the public know This report presents the findings of the most recent (2017) national household survey of current public knowledge about anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and of people’s antibiotic use. Public Health England

Guidance: Health matters: cold weather and COVID-19

Guidance: Health matters: cold weather and COVID-19 This is the first winter with coronavirus (COVID-19) circulating, and it is critical that plans are in place to address the risks that may arise from the concurrence of cold weather and COVID-19. Health Matters focusses on the impact of cold weather on health, how COVID-19 amplifies cold-related risks, and actions that can be taken to prevent harm, particularly to those most vulnerable. Public Health England

See also:

• Parents urged to keep childhood vaccination appointments during national COVID-19 restrictions Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: impact on vaccination programmes Public Health England

Matt Hancock on Covid 19 vaccine trials and roll out

Matt Hancock on Covid 19 vaccine trials and roll out The UK does not have a Covid vaccine yet, but is “one step closer” the health secretary has said.

Matt Hancock was speaking after it was announced on Monday that the world's first effective coronavirus vaccine had shown positive results in preliminary tests on 43,500 people.

He said if it was approved, the NHS had been told to be ready from 1 December to “inject hope into millions of arms this winter”. BBC News

See also:

• Second wave: NHS staff 'feeling the strain' BBC News
• 'Really exciting time' as Covid vaccine hopes soar BBC News
• Covid vaccine: How will we keep it cold enough? BBC News
• Immunising the world against Covid-19 BBC News
• Covid-19: Husband of test and trace boss to self-isolate BBC News
• Government considers changing anti-Covid tier system AGAIN after December 2 The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus England: Liverpool mass-testing scheme to be rolled out The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Excess deaths in private homes soar to 30,000 in England and Wales The Daily Mail
• Mass testing is to be rolled out at universities to get students home safely for Christmas The Daily Mail
• UK Covid-19 cases and deaths: how the UK is coping with a second wave The Daily Telegraph
• GPs in England will scale back care to deliver Covid vaccines The Guardian
• NHS test and trace: Dido Harding says scheme failed to predict demand The Guardian
• NHS and military preparing for mass vaccination programme The Independent
• Covid vaccine: How do trials actually work? The Independent
• UK coronavirus death toll rises by 532 in 24 hours The Independent

Mobile robo-surgeons could widen access to keyhole surgery

Mobile robo-surgeons could widen access to keyhole surgery Keyhole surgery can allow complicated procedures to be carried out with just a few access cuts, helping to reduce patient recovery times and potential risk of infection.

But the remote controlled robots that can perform this type of surgery are often very large, expensive and not widely available.

Now a new robo-surgeon with a modular design could be about to change that. BBC News

UK to ban all online junk food advertising to tackle obesity

UK to ban all online junk food advertising to tackle obesity ‘World-leading’ proposal delights health campaigners and dismays advertising industry

Downing Street has unveiled plans to implement a total ban on online junk food advertising – the toughest digital marketing restrictions in the world – in an attempt to tackle the growing obesity crisis.

While health campaigners have welcomed the proposed ban, which is now subject to a six-week consultation, it has stunned the advertising industry, which has called it indiscriminate and draconian. The Guardian

See also:

• New public consultation on total ban of online advertising for unhealthy foods Department of Health and Social Care

Nurse re-arrested in connection with murder of eight babies and attempted murder of six others

Nurse re-arrested in connection with murder of eight babies and attempted murder of six others A healthcare professional has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder as part of an investigation into deaths of babies at a neonatal unit.

The woman, arrested on Tuesday, is understood to be nurse Lucy Letby, who was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019. The Daily Telegraph

The NHS is preparing for 7 day coronavirus vaccine clinics - but can ‘normal life’ really resume by spring?

The NHS is preparing for 7 day coronavirus vaccine clinics - but can ‘normal life’ really resume by spring? Following the news that a new Covid-19 vaccine has been found to provide 90 per cent protection against the virus, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the NHS is ready to begin providing the vaccine “as fast as safely possible.” Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• These are the groups of people who will be prioritised for a Covid vaccine Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton rock pub reports Covid exposure from final night before it closed for good Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Certain key services will remain separate as Northampton and Kettering hospitals move to 'group model' next year

Certain key services will remain separate as Northampton and Kettering hospitals move to 'group model' next year A new management model that will see Northamptonshire’s two hospital trusts working ‘collaboratively’ will not affect certain key services.

Announced in January, the ‘group model’ will see Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital ‘making the most’ of staff and resources at both sites. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Brackley Medical centre and community hospital to welcome its first patients

Brackley Medical centre and community hospital to welcome its first patients Brackley's new medical centre will be welcoming its first patients on Monday November 16, although the opening has to be kept low key, due to lockdown. Buckingham Advertiser

Continuing healthcare: getting it right first time

Continuing healthcare: getting it right first time NHS continuing healthcare is administered by local NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) with oversight from NHS England and NHS Improvement. This report draws on 60 cases resolved in the last three years relating to continuing healthcare. It has found not only significant failings in care and support planning but also failings in reviews of previously unassessed periods of care. The report's recommendations are rooted in the findings from the casework and point to essential changes that should be made to prevent similar failings for future care users. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

What factors make a community more vulnerable to COVID-19?

What factors make a community more vulnerable to COVID-19? In July 2020, the British Academy convened a workshop, chaired by Professor Sir Ian Diamond FBA, on what we know and need to know about the factors affecting the prevalence of COVID-19 in different communities. A holistic, multidisciplinary approach is needed to understand the causes of vulnerability and the workshop brought together distinguished researchers across a range of disciplines with insights into the available evidence.

This summary elaborates these main points and highlights the common themes around how to identify and support vulnerable communities, exploring ways to reduce the impact of the virus itself and prevent COVID-19 from exacerbating inequalities. The British Academy

See also:

• Vaccines will not be a 'silver bullet' to end Covid-19 immediately because millions of people won't get them and social distancing must stay for months while they are given out, report warns The Daily Mail

The state of the state 2020-21: government in the pandemic and beyond

The state of the state 2020-21: government in the pandemic and beyond In its ninth edition, this annual collaboration with Deloitte explores people's perceptions of public services, spending after the pandemic and the government's 'levelling up' agenda. The report is informed by a national survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI, and interviews with 40 public sector leaders. Reform

Government response: UK government response to Pfizer/BioNTech’s publication of efficacy data of their COVID-19 vaccine

Government response: UK government response to Pfizer/BioNTech’s publication of efficacy data of their COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer/BioNTech (Monday 9 November) published positive efficacy results from Phase 3 studies of their potential Covid-19 vaccine, showing it to be more than 90% effective in preventing coronavirus in participants. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• More rapid COVID-19 tests to be rolled out across England Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: investigation and management of travellers returning from Denmark and their household contacts Public Health England

Covid vaccine: First vaccine offers 90% protection

Covid vaccine: First vaccine offers 90% protection The first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19, a preliminary analysis shows.

The developers - Pfizer and BioNTech - described it as a "great day for science and humanity".

Their vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised. BBC News

See also:

• Covid vaccine: what does the Pfizer vaccine news mean? BBC News
• Covid: Who will have the Pfizer vaccine first and when can I get it? BBC News
• Hancock: 'NHS absolutely ready' for Covid vaccine BBC News
• Covid: Seven-day-a-week clinics for vaccine proposed BBC News
• Covid: China Sinovac vaccine trial halted in Brazil BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: 'We are first-hand witnesses of this devastation' BBC News
• 'Mutant coronavirus' seen before on mink farms, say scientists BBC News
• Tories demand lockdown ends early amid claims PM fears he was 'bounced' The Daily Mail
• One in 11 coronavirus patients discharged from a hospital gets readmitted within three months The Daily Mail
• Pfizer's Covid vaccine 'must be stored at MINUS 70C in special suitcases' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus in mink: Everything we know about the outbreak in Denmark The Daily Telegraph
• UK vaccine taskforce chief Kate Bingham expected to quit The Guardian
• Wales ends 17-day 'firebreak' and brings in looser Covid measures The Guardian
• Covid vaccine: Fact checkers braced for spread of disinformation The Independent
• There are many questions to be answered, but the Pfizer vaccine offers genuine cause for hope The Independent

'Inhuman' use of restraint on disabled adults

'Inhuman' use of restraint on disabled adults Every 15 minutes, on average, a patient with learning disabilities was restrained in hospital last year, new BBC File on 4 analysis shows.

In 2019, restraint was used just over 38,000 times in England. In 2017, there were 22,000 reports of restraint.

Harriet Harman, chairwoman of the House of Commons joint select committee on human rights, said this suggested "inhuman and degrading" treatment.

The Department of Health said restraint "should only be used as a last resort". BBC News

One in five Covid patients develop mental illness within first three months, study shows

One in five Covid patients develop mental illness within first three months, study shows One in five Covid-19 patients were diagnosed with a mental illness for the first time within three months of their infection, a study has shown.

Mental health experts said the findings, which were based on an analysis of the electronic medical records of 69 million people in the US, suggest that coronavirus survivors could have an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. The Independent

See also:

• Bidirectional associations between COVID-19 and psychiatric disorder: retrospective cohort studies of 62 354 COVID-19 cases in the USA (open access) The Lancet Psychiatry
• Covid 'raises new psychiatric disorders risk' BBC News
• One in 16 Covid survivors will be diagnosed with anxiety 'within three months of the disease' The Daily Mail

Visa rules forcing migrant NHS workers to leave UK amid Covid second wave

Visa rules forcing migrant NHS workers to leave UK amid Covid second wave ‘Shameful’ treatment of health and care workers comes amid 122,000 shortage in England

Migrant healthcare workers are having to return to their countries of origin, potentially hampering Britain’s response to the second wave of coronavirus, after the expiry of visas to support the NHS, trade unions and charities have warned. The Guardian

Number of deaths from type 2 diabetes more than DOUBLED at the peak of pandemic, study finds

Number of deaths from type 2 diabetes more than DOUBLED at the peak of pandemic, study finds The number of deaths from type 2 diabetes in England more than doubled at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in April, a study has revealed.

Around 3,050 people died from the preventable condition — a figure that is 110 per cent higher than the 1,450 who were expected to die based on the 10-year average. The Daily Mail