Is Europe's AstraZeneca jab decision-making flawed?

Is Europe's AstraZeneca jab decision-making flawed? A number of countries have decided to suspend use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reports that some people have suffered blood clots after being given the jab.

But is it a case of being too cautious? Are these nations missing the bigger picture? BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: 'No evidence' of AstraZeneca jab problems, says WHO BBC News
• AstraZeneca vaccine: Safety experts to review jab BBC News
• Covid: UK vaccination surge expected in coming days BBC News
• Covid UK: Boris Johnson accepts delaying first lockdown was a mistake The Daily Mail
• Covid England: Health workers who refuse vaccine can be removed from high-risk wards The Daily Mail
• Benefits of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh any risk, says EMA The Guardian
• Stop ignoring root cause of pandemics while focusing on vaccines, world leaders and UN told The Independent

Covid: Charities warn cancer death rate could rise

Covid: Charities warn cancer death rate could rise A group of 47 cancer charities says that without urgent action, the UK's cancer death rate will rise for the first time in decades.

NHS figures suggest tens of thousands fewer people started cancer treatment since the first lockdown compared to normal times.

One Cancer Voice says that the NHS needs more resources. BBC News 

Gosport hospital deaths: Inquiry reviews 15,000 death certificates

Gosport hospital deaths: Inquiry reviews 15,000 death certificates More than 15,000 death certificates are being examined by police investigating the deaths of patients at a hospital.

An inquiry found 456 patients died after being given opiates at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1987 and 2001, but no charges have been brought. BBC News 

NHS blame culture sees nurses referred to regulator without investigations

NHS blame culture sees nurses referred to regulator without investigations Hospitals and care homes are failing to properly investigate incidents before referring nurses to their regulator, fuelling a blame culture and repeat failures, the head of the nursing watchdog has told The Independent.

Services at risk unless NHS England gets £8bn extra funding within days

Services at risk unless NHS England gets £8bn extra funding within days Health service leaders warn Rishi Sunak over backlog of surgery that has built up during Covid pandemic.

Hospitals will have to start cutting services unless the NHS gets £8bn of extra funding within days, health service leaders are warning ministers.

The NHS will not be able to tackle the huge backlog of surgery that has built up during the pandemic unless it gets the money to cover additional costs resulting from Covid, hospital bosses say. The Guardian

Covid vaccines pass 250,000 mark in Northamptonshire

Covid vaccines pass 250,000 mark in Northamptonshire More than a quarter of a million Covid jabs have been delivered across Northamptonshire as the great vaccine roll-out rumbles on.

Latest NHS figures revealed 253,517 people — nearly 40 per cent of the target population — had received at least a first dose of the life-saving vaccine by March 7. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• ‘No doubt’ further waves of Covid will occur - what the UK’s national statistician said Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Some European countries suspend rollout of Oxford Covid jab - but regulator says it is safe Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Every £10,000 Covid fine issued in Northamptonshire to date is being fought in court Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby lagging behind rest of Northamptonshire in Covid vaccination rates Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Lakeside Corby patients told more Covid jabs are on their way Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Here's how families of school children can access Covid tests to take at home Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Covid cases are rising in 75% of European countries - here's how the UK compares Northamptonshire Telegraph
• WHO gives approval for Johnson & Johnson single dose Covid vaccine - what it means for UK Northamptonshire Telegraph

Taking your approach to population health and tackling health inequalities to the next level

Taking your approach to population health and tackling health inequalities to the next level Tackling health inequalities is one key aspect of population health and an increasingly important priority for health and care. Health inequalities existed long before the seminal Black report (1980) or subsequent reports by Acheson (1998) and Marmot (2010), and they continue to persist today. The Covid-19 pandemic has served as a stark signal, highlighting and exacerbating inequalities, and stressing the urgent need for effective population health efforts that strongly focus on tackling them. The King's Fund

The other pandemic: the impact of Covid-19 on Britain’s mental health

The other pandemic: the impact of Covid-19 on Britain’s mental health In February 2021 Public First polled 4,000 people and held 12 in depth focus groups with people from across Britain. The findings, published in this report, show that coronavirus has taken on mental health in all parts of society – but especially women, the less well-off and young people. Public First

Understanding vulnerability to online misinformation

Understanding vulnerability to online misinformation Several large-scale research projects have started during the pandemic with the aim of understanding the nature, prevalence and spread of health-related misinformation online. However, relatively little is known about who is vulnerable to believing false information and why. This research report used a survey and assessments to understand which individuals are most vulnerable to believing health-related falsities and the role played by the content that individuals are exposed to. The Alan Turing Institute 

Cancer won't wait: building resilience in cancer screening and diagnostics in Europe based on lessons from the pandemic

Cancer won't wait: building resilience in cancer screening and diagnostics in Europe based on lessons from the pandemic The ongoing impact of Covid-19 on health services across Europe has in most cases led to significant reductions in cancer screening, testing and diagnosis. Responses in individual countries have differed, but there are common challenges in all countries. This report highlights some of the approaches already being taken, as well as suggestions for what should be done going forward. It considers different stakeholders – from local pharmacies to national and international organisations – and their roles, as well as multi-stakeholder collaboration and cooperation. Please note that free registration is required to access this report. The IQVIA Institute

NHS staff survey 2020

NHS staff survey 2020 This resource presents results from an annual survey to collect staff views and experiences about working in their NHS organisation. NHS England

See also:

• The government must translate praise for NHS staff into practical support and investment to help them recover The Health Foundation
• Burnt-out staff: The King's Fund responds to NHS staff survey The King's Fund
• Troubling responses from nurses: Nuffield Trust response to NHS Staff Survey Nuffield Trust
• NHS poll shows rising toll of work stress on staff health The Guardian
• More than 4 in 10 NHS staff ‘made ill by stress’ during pandemic The Independent

Health charities back vaccines drive for those at risk

Health charities back vaccines drive for those at risk People with underlying conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart disease are encouraged to come forward for a Covid-19 vaccine by leading UK health charities. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: The R value and growth rate in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS text drive to invite millions at risk for lifesaving COVID jab NHS England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England
• JCVI advises prioritising homeless people and rough sleepers for COVID-19 vaccine Public Health England

Covid-19: Evidence does not suggest AstraZeneca jab linked to clots, MHRA says

Covid-19: Evidence does not suggest AstraZeneca jab linked to clots, MHRA says People should still get their Covid vaccine despite several EU countries pausing use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab amid concern about blood clots, the UK medicines regulator has said.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said evidence "does not suggest" the jab causes clots. BBC News

See also:

• Response to Irish authorities’ action to temporarily suspend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine MHRA
• Covid-19: Netherlands suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine BBC News
• What happens if I don't get the Covid vaccine? BBC News
• Covid: UK Biobank scans aim to reveal health legacy BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Homeless people to be prioritised BBC News
• Covid-infected pregnant women are 18 times more likely to go to intensive care, study shows The Daily Mail
• Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine offers 97% protection, Israel study finds The Daily Mail
• Novavax vaccine found to be 86% effective against UK Covid strain in late-stage trial The Daily Telegraph
• Four new cases of Brazilian variant identified in UK The Daily Telegraph
• Covid trauma will drive intensive care staff out of NHS, warns charity The Guardian
• Why are countries suspending AstraZeneca vaccine rollouts? Everything we know so far The Independent
• UK’s coronavirus vaccines dramatically cut transmission, new study suggests The Independent

Psychedelic therapy could 'reset' depressed brain

Psychedelic therapy could 'reset' depressed brain A powerful hallucinogenic drug known for its part in shamanic rituals is being trialled as a potential cure for depression for the first time.

Participants will be given the drug DMT, followed by talking therapy.

It is hoped this could offer an alternative for the significant number of people who don't respond to conventional pills for depression. BBC News

Sunak defends budget plans and insists 1% rise for NHS staff is fair

Sunak defends budget plans and insists 1% rise for NHS staff is fair Rishi Sunak has rejected criticism that his budget plans to repair the government’s finances after Covid-19 were unrealistic, and insisted a 1% pay rise for NHS staff is fair.

The chancellor said the pay offer, alongside plans for a wider public sector pay freeze, was “proportionate, fair and reasonable” given the damage to the government’s finances caused by the pandemic and as many workers in the private sector have lost their jobs. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS nurses could get a 3 PER CENT pay rise under No10 peace plans The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson resists calls to correct claim in NHS pay row The Guardian
• Ministers 'considering one-off bonus' for frontline NHS staff after outrage at nurses' 1% pay rise iNews

Record 4.6million people are now on NHS waiting list in England

Record 4.6million people are now on NHS waiting list in England NHS England data show that more people than ever are waiting for operations or waiting too long for cancer appointments as the health service scrambles to work through its backlog. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'Roughly 1 in 12 people in England are awaiting NHS treatment' The King's Fund
• Nuffield Trust: Significant pressure building up as waiting list exceeds record numbers Nuffield Trust
• Covid-19: NHS waits at record high as second wave hits care BBC News
• 50,000 fewer men were urgently referred for suspected prostate cancer during pandemic The Daily Mail
• NHS England waiting times reached record high in January The Guardian
• More than 300,000 NHS patients waiting over a year for routine surgery The Independent

Police issued 177 fixed penalty notices over ONE WEEKEND for Covid breaches across Northamptonshire

Police issued 177 fixed penalty notices over ONE WEEKEND for Covid breaches across Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Police issued a "disappointing" number of Covid fines over the weekend after almost 200 lockdown breaches took place in the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• 'Overwhelmingly positive first day back': Northampton schools full of joy with return of all pupils Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Second lateral flow testing centre opens in Corby Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Ethnic minorities left at 'significantly higher risk' of Covid due to ‘colour-blind' vaccination model Northamptonshire Telegraph

Over 70000 calls made to Northamptonshire's 24/7 mental health number in its first year

Over 70000 calls made to Northamptonshire's 24/7 mental health number in its first year Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) have received over 70,000 calls since launching their 24/7 mental health support number in collaboration with mental health charity, Mind, in March 2020. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Let's get on with it, Kettering MP tells ministers over KGH rebuild funding

Let's get on with it, Kettering MP tells ministers over KGH rebuild funding Kettering's MP has called on Government ministers to engage 'Project Speed' so the town can have a hospital it will be proud of - and he wants an early advance on funding. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Seeking an anchor in an unstable world: experiences of low-income families over time

Seeking an anchor in an unstable world: experiences of low-income families over time This report draws on the experiences of 14 low-income families over a five-year period ending on the eve of the pandemic. In most of the families in the study, either a parent, child or both had ongoing physical and/or mental health issues. This had implications over time for families' work opportunities, income, and plans. The report also examines other issues such as housing, employment, benefits, family composition, and support from formal and informal sources. Joseph Rowntree Foundation 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the different effects on men and women in the UK, March 2020 to February 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the different effects on men and women in the UK, March 2020 to February 2021 Analysis of previously published data from across the Office for National Statistics and the government highlights the different effects on men and women throughout the first year of the coronavirus pandemic in charts.

See also: 

• Covid: Women more anxious and overworked amid pandemic BBC News

Staff experience: Adapting and innovating during COVID-19

Staff experience: Adapting and innovating during COVID-19 This resource showcases some of the NHS trusts that have adapted and innovated during the pandemic, to provide examples that may serve to strengthen local approaches and inform future practice in supporting staff experience. NHS Employers

New analysis of lateral flow tests shows specificity of at least 99.9%

New analysis of lateral flow tests shows specificity of at least 99.9% New analysis published today shows lateral flow tests (LFD) to have a specificity of at least 99.9% when used to test in the community and could be as high as 99.97%. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Research and analysis: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Public Health England

Cancer patients 'less protected' after first jab

Cancer patients 'less protected' after first jab Cancer patients are much less protected against Covid-19 than other people after one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, the first real-world study in this area suggests.

With a 12-week wait for the second dose this could leave them vulnerable, says the King's College London and Francis Crick Institute research team. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid blood protein offers clues for treatments BBC News
• Covid-19: False test results 'ruining' return to school BBC News
• Covid: Brazil experts issue warning as hospitals 'close to collapse' BBC News
• Anti-vaxx propaganda about fertility and Covid jabs driving vaccine hesitancy The Daily Mail
• BAME communities are being put at risk by UK's 'colour-blind' Covid vaccine strategy, experts warn The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Kent Covid variant 'is up to TWICE as deadly as older versions' The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson sparks lockdown extension fears as he warns of European Covid 'surge' The Daily Mail
• NHS to send text messages telling you it's time for your Covid jab The Daily Telegraph
• Concerns over huge buildup of used PPE at hospitals in England The Guardian
• Is test and trace really the most wasteful public spending programme ever? The Independent
• Government coaching Serco on how to win honours for running test-and-trace programme The Independent
• NHS trust bows to pressure in reinstating full sick pay for cleaners and porters The Independent
• European regulator raised concern over quality of early Pfizer vaccine batches, leaked emails show The Independent
• Covid vaccine: UK has up to 10 million extra jabs, as surge in supply means NHS can ramp up second doses iNews

LGBT+ groups' 'deep concern' over minister's approach to conversion therapy ban

LGBT+ groups' 'deep concern' over minister's approach to conversion therapy ban Nearly 20 LGBT+ organisations and campaigners have written to the equalities minister to express their "deep concern" at her response to calls to ban so-called conversion therapy. BBC News

See also: 

• Ministers 'must quickly ban LGBT+ conversion therapy' BBC News
• ​Equality adviser quits accusing ministers of creating ‘hostile environment’ for LGBT people The Independent
• Government creating 'hostile environment' for LGBT+ people says adviser as she quits over conversion therapy ITV News

NHS recruits thousands of overseas nurses to work on understaffed wards

NHS recruits thousands of overseas nurses to work on understaffed wards More than 8,000 overseas nurses have been recruited by the NHS in the last 10 months to help fill gaps on overstretched hospital wards, The Independent can reveal. 

Tiny swallowable cameras will check for cancer in 'sci-fi' development

Tiny swallowable cameras will check for cancer in 'sci-fi' development Swallowable cameras the size of capsules will be given to NHS patients in a “sci-fi” bid to check for cancer.

Taking more than 57,000 pictures as they work through the digestive system, the disposable devices are intended to replace complicated and uncomfortable endoscopies. The Daily Telegraph

Another shot in the arm as first Northampton pharmacy joins Covid-19 jabs roll-out

Another shot in the arm as first Northampton pharmacy joins Covid-19 jabs roll-out A Northampton pharmacy is among the first in the county to join the roll-out of Covid-19 jabs.

The NHS announced two months ago that life-saving coronavirus jabs would be delivered at High Street pharmacies as part of the massive vaccination programme. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Schools could bring in ‘week in, week out’ rotas if Covid R rate starts to rise Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• These are the UK demographics most hesitant to take a coronavirus vaccine - according to new research Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• How year of Covid affected Thrapston ambulance worker as the world stood still Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby shopping centre Covid vaccination hub opens for jabs Northampton Chronicle and Echo

"I owe my life to them": KGH's heart attack centre marks 10 years of care

"I owe my life to them": KGH's heart attack centre marks 10 years of care It's saved many, many lives in the past decade. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Evidence and science in health policy

Evidence and science in health policy The past year has thrust the relationship between evidence and policy-making into the spotlight. With the subject under debate at this year’s Summit series, before the event we asked Nigel Edwards for his views on it. When are health policy-makers most and least likely to listen to the evidence and science? Nuffield Trust 

Delivering prevention in an ageing world: democratising access to prevention

Delivering prevention in an ageing world: democratising access to prevention This consultation paper sets out key criteria that will allow governments and health care systems to democratise access and deliver prevention across the life course. Submissions and feedback will be accepted until 9 April 2021. International Longevity Centre UK 

“Unimaginable” cost of Test & Trace failed to deliver central promise of averting another lockdown

“Unimaginable” cost of Test & Trace failed to deliver central promise of averting another lockdown In its report the Public Accounts Committee says that while NHST&T clearly had to be set up and staffed at incredible speed, it must now "wean itself off its persistent reliance on consultants"; there is still no clear evidence of NHST&T's overall effectiveness; and it’s not clear whether its contribution to reducing infection levels - as opposed to the other measures introduced to tackle the pandemic - can justify its "unimaginable" costs.

See also: 

• Covid-19: NHS Test and Trace 'no clear impact' despite £37bn budget BBC News
• No evidence £22bn test-and-trace scheme cut Covid rates in England, say MPs The Guardian
• Thousands of test and trace staff to be let go with just a week’s notice The Independent

Speak up and help beat coronavirus (COVID-19)

Speak up and help beat coronavirus (COVID-19) Take 5 minutes of your time to submit your voice sounds and contribute to COVID-19 research.

We will explore how algorithms can use voice data, including cough recordings, to detect COVID-19. By identifying if someone is more likely to need a test by using voice sounds, we can find more cases, help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our health service. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• NHS text alerts for life-saving COVID jab NHS England

Covid-19: Don't think pandemic is over, Whitty warns

Covid-19: Don't think pandemic is over, Whitty warns Unlocking too quickly would lead to a substantial surge in Covid infections, the UK's chief medical adviser says.

Prof Chris Whitty told MPs that would be dangerous and risk lives among the many vulnerable people not yet protected by the vaccine.

"A lot of people may think this is all over. It is very easy to forget how quickly things can turn bad," he said. BBC News

See also: 

• 'Normal' to feel a bit unwell after Covid vaccine BBC News
• Covid online symptom checker 'may delay treatment' BBC News
• Brazil's Covid catastrophe is an 'atomic bomb' that could the pandemic drag out The Daily Mail
• Nearly a THIRD of Covid 'long-haulers' had NO symptoms at diagnosis The Daily Mail
• Hospitals say third wave of COVID is OVER after number of ICUs with NO beds available fell by 50% The Daily Mail
• Whitty: revising plan to ease England lockdown would risk fresh Covid surge The Guardian
• UK’s ‘colour-blind’ vaccine strategy puts ethnic minorities at risk, experts warn The Independent

Labour demands 100 Covid-related contracts be published

Labour demands 100 Covid-related contracts be published Labour has demanded the government apologise and release 100 Covid-related contracts it says remain unpublished despite the prime minister’s commitment to releasing them.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, accused ministers of handing out taxpayer money to those with “close links” to the Conservatives “without any transparency” during the scramble to procure personal protective equipment. The Guardian 

NHS England boss says staff deserve 2.1% pay rise rather than 1%

NHS England boss says staff deserve 2.1% pay rise rather than 1% The boss of the NHS in England has said that staff deserve a 2.1% pay rise next year and confirmed that ministers had planned to give them that rather than the 1% that has sparked a huge outcry.

Sir Simon Stevens said most of the NHS workforce were due to see their salaries increase by 2.1% from 1 April under the five-year funding deal Theresa May gave the service in 2018. The Guardian

See also:

• Pay rise was set to be 2.1% - NHS England chief Simon Stevens BBC News
• NHS chief confirms staff were promised higher pay rise The Independent
• Senior Tory minister hints at U-turn over NHS pay amid outcry over 1% rise The Independent
• NHS England boss tells MPs health service staff were expecting bigger pay rise than government's 1% offer Sky News

Almost 11,000 Britons could be living with undiagnosed breast cancer, charity warns

Almost 11,000 Britons could be living with undiagnosed breast cancer, charity warns Breast Cancer Now said there were 10,700 fewer people diagnosed with the condition between March and December - when Covid infections spiralled - than expected for the time of year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Almost 11,000 people living with undiagnosed breast cancer in UK Breast Cancer Now

Northamptonshire public health boss: 'Today is First step on a long road to a more normal way of life'

Northamptonshire public health boss: 'Today is First step on a long road to a more normal way of life' Today marks the first step on a long road to normality but there is work still to do, Northamptonshire's public health boss has said. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid-19: Fans fined at Corby gathering after Rangers' title win BBC Northampton
• Covid one year on: How the director of health in Northamptonshire suddenly found herself at the centre of the pandemic Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Boris Johnson plays down calls for easing of restrictions Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Dismissed! Northamptonshire hospitals thank Army volunteers for help during height of pandemic Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby village school's EIGHT positive staff lateral flow tests cause delay to classroom returns Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby care home which suffered deadly Covid outbreak told it needs to improve Northamptonshire Telegraph

RCN independent review of guidelines for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in health care settings in the United Kingdom: evaluation and messages for future infection-related emergency planning

RCN independent review of guidelines for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in health care settings in the United Kingdom: evaluation and messages for future infection-related emergency planning This report of an independent review finds that the government’s Covid-19 infection control guidelines, which are used across the UK, are in need of updating. It calls for all NHS staff to be given a higher level of personal protective equipment as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of a review. Royal College of Nursing 

Opportunities to repurpose medicines in the NHS in England

Opportunities to repurpose medicines in the NHS in England The Repurposing Medicines Programme was established to identify and pursue opportunities to strengthen the evidence base, licencing, supply and cost effectiveness of un-licenced or off label medicines in current (or likely future) common use in the NHS. This report outlines the findings of the programme and the proposed future work programme. NHS England 

Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view

Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view This guidance is a companion document to the NHS Long Term Plan, outlining the commitments NHS England and NHS Improvement is making to improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community, serving personnel (regulars and reservists), veterans and their families. NHS England 

Guidance: Preconception advice for women with serious mental illness

Guidance: Preconception advice for women with serious mental illness Resources for health care professionals and women with a mental health condition who are planning a pregnancy or may become pregnant in the future. Public Health England 

Relaunch of the Act FAST campaign to improve stroke outcomes

Relaunch of the Act FAST campaign to improve stroke outcomes The Act FAST campaign urges everyone to take immediate action on seeing any stroke symptoms to save lives – the NHS is open.

Data from the lockdown period of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic last year show that admissions to hospital for stroke fell – a 12% drop between March and April 2020. Public Health England 

Coronavirus and vaccine hesitancy, Great Britain: 13 January to 7 February 2021

Coronavirus and vaccine hesitancy, Great Britain: 13 January to 7 February 2021 Hesitancy towards the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, based on the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey covering the period 13 January to 7 February 2021.

Positive vaccine sentiment has increased to 94% in the latest period (24 to 28 February), from 78% when the data were first collected (10 to 13 December 2020). Office for National Statistics

See also: 

• Young, poor and black Britons most hesitant about getting Covid vaccine, new statistics show The Independent

Covid-19: Nightingale hospitals to close from April

Covid-19: Nightingale hospitals to close from April The network of emergency Nightingale hospitals set up to cope with a surge of Covid-19 cases is to close from April, the NHS has said.

Established last spring amid fears that the NHS might be overwhelmed, the temporary hospitals in England were largely not needed.

Some were used as rehab centres and the sites in London and Sunderland will stay open for vaccinations. BBC News

See also: 

• New US guidance says fully vaccinated people can meet without masks BBC News
• Boris Johnson: 'Inevitable' Covid transmission risk with schools return BBC News
• Covid vaccines: How fast is progress around the world? BBC News
• Covid-19 Symptom Checker 'failed to pick up serious illness' The Daily Mail
• Return to schools could alter Covid roadmap, Boris Johnson warns The Guardian
• Lab test shows Pfizer Covid vaccine is effective against Brazil variant The Independent
• NHS to boost vaccine uptake with text message campaign The Independent
• Labour tells government to hold regular NHS 'war-games' to prepare for future pandemics The Independent
• Banksy painting sale hopes to raise millions for NHS - and celebrate heroes of the pandemic Sky News

Hospitals forced to repay millions after falsely claiming their maternity units were safe

Hospitals forced to repay millions after falsely claiming their maternity units were safe NHS hospitals have been forced to pay millions of pounds to regulators after wrongly claiming their maternity units were among the safest in the country.

Seven NHS trusts, including some now at the centre of major care scandals, will have to pay back a total of £8.5m after self-assessments of their maternity services were found to be false. The Independent 

Dr Jenny Harries is favourite to take over England's National Institute of Health Protection

Dr Jenny Harries is favourite to take over England's National Institute of Health Protection Dr Jenny Harries, who has worked in public health for well over a decade, would take over from Baroness Dido Harding as chief of NHS Test & Trace and oversee the replacement of Public Health England. The Daily Mail

Covid-19: Corby 'worried' about staying in lockdown

Covid-19: Corby 'worried' about staying in lockdown For the last month Corby in Northamptonshire has had one of the highest Covid-19 rates in England. So how do people there feel about the easing of restrictions and what do they think is behind their persistently high rates? BBC Northampton

See also:

• Northamptonshire's Covid map now shows 12 areas where virus is on its way out Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire parents warned: don't send your kids to school if the have Covid symptoms Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid-19: 'There is a very, very bright light at the end of the tunnel,' say Northamptonshire health chiefs Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Police ‘reviewing footage’ of Corby Glasgow Rangers celebration and could fine organiser £10,000 Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England says it may have to start cutting care without additional funding

NHS England says it may have to start cutting care without additional funding NHS England bosses have warned the service needs an extra £8 billion in funding to cover coronavirus costs - or they may be forced to cut care.

Chiefs have called on UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to provide extra funding to the NHS, saying that the Chancellor is attempting to pay for coronavirus care by taking money out of the usual health service budget, leading to delays in care for non-Covid patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Exploring referral-to-treatment waiting trajectories in 2021

Exploring referral-to-treatment waiting trajectories in 2021 This briefing explores recent trends in waiting times and considers how waiting patterns may unfold in 2021. It accompanies Building Back Elective Care, an NHS Confederation briefing on what the NHS needs to clear backlogs of planned care as the immediate pressures of COVID-19 start to subside. NHS Confederation

See also:

• Health bosses warn of 'hidden' waiting list of six million patients The Daily Mail
• Six million ‘hidden’ patients could flood NHS waiting lists this year The Independent

Involving and supporting partners and other family members in specialist perinatal mental health services: good practice guide

Involving and supporting partners and other family members in specialist perinatal mental health services: good practice guide This best practice guidance describes women and their families with a positive experience of care, with services joined up around them and earlier diagnosis and intervention, and support to recover, ensuring fewer women, their infants and partners suffer avoidable harm. NHS England

Living safely with Covid: moving toward a strategy for sustainable exit from the pandemic

Living safely with Covid: moving toward a strategy for sustainable exit from the pandemic This report aims to support Directors of Public Health, local authorities and wider partners in considering the approaches that are most appropriate as the country moves out of lockdown. It focuses specifically on the inequalities that have been observed during the pandemic and the actions that should be taken to address them. It also explores early thinking on recovery and how this might be maximised to address the wider health and economic impacts of Covid-19 in an equitable and fair way. Association of Directors of Public Health 

Government launches call for evidence to improve health and wellbeing of women in England

Government launches call for evidence to improve health and wellbeing of women in England Women are being encouraged to share their experiences of the health and care system via a call for evidence aimed at improving healthcare for women. Department of Health and Social Care 

Free rapid tests for all businesses for regular workplace testing

Free rapid tests for all businesses for regular workplace testing All businesses in England are now able to sign up to the government’s free COVID-19 workplace testing programme. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• NHS invites people aged 56 to 59 for their COVID jab NHS England
• Schools and colleges to reopen from tomorrow as part of Step One of the roadmap Public Health England

Covid-19: Vaccine offers for those aged 56 or over

Covid-19: Vaccine offers for those aged 56 or over People aged 56 to 59 in England are being invited to book their coronavirus vaccine from this week.

Letters for people in the age group, offering them the vaccine, started being delivered to homes on Saturday.

It comes after eight in 10 people aged 65 to 69 have taken up the offer of a jab, NHS England said. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: School rapid test cannot be overruled, says minister BBC News
• Covid: Nurses condemn 'fundamentally flawed' PPE rules BBC News
• Covid-19: Vaccinated NHS staff numbers vary across England BBC News
• Covid-19: Mystery UK person with Brazil variant found BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Britain's daily Covid cases drop to 5,947 and deaths fall by a third The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: UK will have to 'live with a substantial degree of death' in post-lockdown era The Daily Mail
• Daily Covid-19 deaths fall below 100 for first time since October The Daily Telegraph
• 'There’s a lot of nasty stuff': the people living with long Covid The Guardian
• Young, poor and black Britons most hesitant about getting Covid vaccine, new statistics show The Independent
• ‘Inevitable’ children returning to school will cause Covid cases to rise, says government adviser The Independent

What is going on with government Covid contracts?

What is going on with government Covid contracts? During the pandemic, the government has awarded thousands of contracts to private companies, spending billions of pounds of public money in the process.

They cover everything from personal protective equipment (PPE) - masks, gowns and gloves - to services such as researching public opinion about the government's Covid measures.

But the way these contracts have been awarded - and the huge sums of money involved - have led to accusations of a lack of transparency. BBC News

Spinal muscular atrophy: Gene therapy approved by NHS

Spinal muscular atrophy: Gene therapy approved by NHS A life-changing drug has been approved by the NHS to treat babies with a rare fatal genetic disorder.

The gene therapy Zolgensma offers hope to infants with a type of severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

With a list price of £1.79m it could become the most expensive drug ever approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. BBC News 

Nurses' union prepares for strike action over 1% pay offer for NHS staff

Nurses' union prepares for strike action over 1% pay offer for NHS staff Royal College of Nursing sets up fund to cover members’ lost earnings should they decide to walk out

A nurses’ union is preparing for strike action as anger grows about the 1% pay rise proposed for NHS staff in England.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that at an emergency meeting called by its governing council, members voted to set up a £35m fund to support workers facing loss of earnings owing to industrial action. The Guardian

See also:

• Johnson defends 1% pay rise despite NHS staff exodus warnings The Guardian
• How is NHS pay decided and what is the case for a 1% rise? The Guardian
• Boris Johnson: we've tried to give NHS staff as much as we can – video The Guardian
• Vast majority of those affected by controversial NHS pay offer are women The Independent

Covid vaccines: 35,000 jabs done in just ONE WEEK across Northamptonshire

Covid vaccines: 35,000 jabs done in just ONE WEEK across Northamptonshire Four out of every ten people in Northamptonshire have now received at least a first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

NHS teams across the county delivered an astonishing 35,000 jabs in just seven days between February 22 and February 28, according to official figures released on Thursday. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• North Northamptonshire's Covid rates raised with Matt Hancock again Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• UK most likely place in world for Covid-19 mutant strain - health minister warns Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Scientists are tracking another new Covid variant in the UK after 16 cases found Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Latest advice for Northamptonshire mums-to-be over Covid vaccinations Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Some asthma sufferers are being refused a Covid vaccine by GPs despite government guidance Northamptonshire Telegraph

MEET THE GOVERNORS: Kettering governor explains more about Northamptonshire's health scene

MEET THE GOVERNORS: Kettering governor explains more about Northamptonshire's health scene A KGH governor has gone into more details about Northamptonshire's health scene.

The governors at KGH have teamed up with the Telegraph to give our readers an insight into their role and the work they do. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

The end of an era? Brexit’s impact on the UK’s scientific successes

The end of an era? Brexit’s impact on the UK’s scientific successes For almost 50 years, the NHS benefited from easy access to a large market, meaning it’s been first in the queue for the latest innovations. But what impact might Brexit have on medicines, medical devices and life sciences in the UK? Nuffield Trust 

NHS launches ‘Op Courage’ veterans’ mental health service

NHS launches ‘Op Courage’ veterans’ mental health service Armed forces veterans suffering a mental health crisis will receive specialist care as part of a new Op Courage service launched by NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens. NHS England 

£79 million to boost mental health support for children and young people

£79 million to boost mental health support for children and young people Millions more children and young people will have access to significantly expanded mental health services, backed by £79 million. Department of Health and Social Care 

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Sixteen cases of a new variant, VUI-202102/04 (lineage B.1.1.318), have been identified in the UK. The variant has been designated a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) by Public Health England

See also: 

• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority, epidemiological data, 4 March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: NHS Test and Trace (England) statistics: 18 February to 24 February 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England

Covid-19: Another new variant added to UK watch list

Covid-19: Another new variant added to UK watch list Scientists have identified 16 cases of another new variant of coronavirus in the UK.

Public Health England has designated it as a 'variant under investigation' (VUI), meaning it is on their watch list, but not one they are immediately concerned about.

It has a mutation in common with the South Africa and Brazil variants. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid variants: What happens when a virus mutates? BBC News
• Covid: Asthma patients refused vaccine by some GPs BBC News
• Covid: Fresh air 'key to safer classrooms' BBC News
• Covid: Pfizer and Moderna vaccines give T-cell immunity against new variants The Daily Mail
• Matt Hancock urges England to stay vigilant after study claims the decline in Covid cases has SLOWED The Daily Mail
• Some English care homes to delay allowing indoor visits over Covid risk The Guardian

Test and Trace barely used check-in data from pubs and restaurants - with thousands not warned of infection risk

Test and Trace barely used check-in data from pubs and restaurants - with thousands not warned of infection risk Data from hundreds of millions of check-ins by people who visited pubs, restaurants and hairdressers before lockdown was barely used by Test and Trace, according to a confidential report obtained by Sky News

See also:

• Covid contracts still unpublished despite Boris Johnson's claim BBC News
• Test And Trace Spending Will Top £37bn, Budget Small Print Reveals Huffington Post

Hospitals failing to heed warnings over patient deaths, reveals new study

Hospitals failing to heed warnings over patient deaths, reveals new study Thousands of similar errors contributing to patient deaths are being repeated by hospitals despite warnings from coroners, according to new research.

An analysis of four years of official reports by coroners, issued after the conclusion of inquests into patient deaths, has revealed the impact of the NHS struggling with a lack of resources and staff. Coroners found similar mistakes across hundreds of inquests. The Independent 

See also: 

• A thematic analysis of the prevention of future deaths reports in healthcare from HM coroners in England and Wales 2016–2019 (open access) Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management

Unions attack 'pitiful' 1% pay rise proposed for NHS staff

Unions attack 'pitiful' 1% pay rise proposed for NHS staff The government is embroiled in a row with NHS staff after deciding they should get only a 1% pay rise next year, despite Boris Johnson’s effusive praise for their efforts during the pandemic.

Nurses and doctors accused ministers of not valuing health service personnel highly enough after the recommendation that more than 1 million staff should receive only a small increase. The Guardian

See also: 

• Policy paper: DHSC evidence for the NHSPRB: pay round 2021 to 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Policy paper: DHSC evidence for the DDRB: pay round 2021 to 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Government’s evidence on NHS pay is ‘bitterly disappointing’ and ‘out of touch’ but not a done deal Royal College of Nursing
• Nurses' union anger over 'pitiful' 1% NHS pay rise BBC News
• Low-paid public sector workers to get £250 pay rise BBC News
• NHS 1% pay rise is what we can afford - minister BBC News
• Government recommends 1pc pay rise for NHS staff Health Service Journal
• 1% NHS Staff Pay Rise Is ‘Most We Think We Can Afford’ Nadine Dorries Says Huffington Post
• Minister’s planned NHS pay rise labelled ‘pitiful’ by unions The Independent

Community resilience group launched in Wellingborough to offer post-pandemic support

Community resilience group launched in Wellingborough to offer post-pandemic support A new Wellingborough group has been launched to ensure the community spirit which has helped so many through Covid continues long after the pandemic. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Northamptonshire holidaymaker fined for ignoring quarantine rules despite fears over Brazilian Covid variant Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Matt Hancock says UK residents will be able to certify they have had a Covid vaccination in future Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Maternity services to take over Northampton neighbourhood library formerly used as a community hub

Maternity services to take over Northampton neighbourhood library formerly used as a community hub A Northampton library formerly used as a community hub will now be used for maternity services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Residual drugs in intravenous cannulae and extension lines

Residual drugs in intravenous cannulae and extension lines Our investigation looked at the risks to patients when intravenous (IV) drugs are retained in cannulae and extension lines.

Some drugs, such as those used in anaesthesia and pain management, can cause patients to stop breathing. After administration, these drugs should be flushed through cannulae and extension lines to make sure no residual quantities of the drugs are left. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also: 

• Dozens of patients left conscious but unable to breathe after NHS drug errors The Independent

New research shows the health care use of individuals with multiple conditions also depends on health of those they live with

New research shows the health care use of individuals with multiple conditions also depends on health of those they live with Health Foundation research shows that the health and health care needs of people living in the same household are interconnected. The findings highlight the potential for services to make better use of household information when planning and providing care. 

Budget 2021

Budget 2021 The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented his Budget to Parliament on Wednesday 3 March 2021. HM Treasury

See also: 

• Chancellor has imposed 'an unfair tax on doctors' and survey shows many now plan to leave the NHS before their expected retirement BMA
• A budget for rescue but not recovery The Health Foundation
• Member briefing: Budget 2021 NHS Confederation
• Budget 2021 NHS Employers
• Striking absence of a plan for long-term recovery of health and social care services in the Budget Nuffield Trust
• Lack of funding for health and social care service recovery will affect both staff and patients Royal College of Nursing
• Budget 2021: Key points at-a-glance BBC News
• From furlough to restart grants, how Rishi Sunak's £352bn Covid support package works The Daily Telegraph
• NHS, social care and most vulnerable 'betrayed' by Sunak's budget The Guardian
• Sunak goes long on support for jobs – but says little about NHS or inequality The Guardian
• Budget 2021: 'Insulted' NHS staff must make do with 'clapping and badges' after being denied pay rise iNews
• Rishi Sunak's pension tax relief policy could hit NHS doctors at the worst possible time iNews

Final findings from February COVID-19 REACT-1 study published

Final findings from February COVID-19 REACT-1 study published Findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show infections fell by two-thirds from the last REACT-1 report in January, with 1 in 204 people infected. Department and Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: February 2021 final results Department and Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: Evaluating detection of SARS-CoV-2: AntiBodies at Home study Public Health England

Covid: React study finds virus decline slowing in England

Covid: React study finds virus decline slowing in England A marked decline in infections between January and February may have slowed, according to scientists tracking coronavirus in England.

Infections fell by two-thirds over lockdown, but one in 200 people still have the virus.

Lower virus levels are needed to get the best out of the vaccination programme, Imperial College's React study says. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: New vaccines for variants to be fast-tracked BBC News
• Covid: Oxford vaccine does protect older people, Europe told BBC News
• No10 admits 'Crude' and flawed formula used to divvy up Covid vaccine supplies The Daily Mail
• NHS hospitals in London are told to prepare for a 'possible surge' in Covid patients later this year The Daily Mail
• Unions attack 'sinister' plan to force NHS staff to have Covid vaccine The Guardian
• 'I don't want to be bullied': NHS and care workers on mandatory Covid jabs
• Ninety percent of Covid deaths are in countries with high obesity rates, study finds The Independent

UK government may start offering financial rewards for becoming healthier

UK government may start offering financial rewards for becoming healthier NHS and councils in England also being given £70m towards weight loss and fitness courses

The government is expanding access to weight loss services and may start offering people financial rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle as part of the fight against obesity. The Guardian 

UK sick days fall to record low of just 1.8% despite Covid pandemic

UK sick days fall to record low of just 1.8% despite Covid pandemic The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the sickness absence rate - the number of working hours lost due to illness - was 1.8 per cent in the UK in 2020, the equivalent of about 3.6 days per worker. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Sickness absence in the UK labour market: 2020 Office for National Statistics

Covid-19: One year on from Northamptonshire's first virus case more than 45000 have had it and 1500 died

Covid-19: One year on from Northamptonshire's first virus case more than 45000 have had it and 1500 died News on March 3 that someone in Northamptonshire had coronavirus was hardly unexpected what had gone on in the previous few months.

Twelve months on, though, more than 45,000 of the county's 750,000 population have tested positive for the virus and more than 1,500 have died. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Covid-19 one year on: "There was possibility to tell everybody to panic but, on balance, our approach was right" says Northampton council leader Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid-19 one year on: How half-term skiing trips gave the virus a foothold in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Brazil Covid variant could cause reinfection in 61% of people - and is more transmissible Northamptonshire Telegraph

New Macmillan telephone and online support service launches at KGH

New Macmillan telephone and online support service launches at KGH A new Macmillan telephone and online support service for cancer patients has been launched at KGH.

The service is providing practical, emotional and financial support virtually, by telephone, video call, email, and online and has already helped some 141 people. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Perplexing Presentations (PP)/Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) in Children Guidance

Perplexing Presentations (PP)/Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) in Children Guidance This new guidance provides procedures for safeguarding children who present with perplexing presentations and FII and offers practical advice for paediatricians on when and how to recognise it, how to assess risk and how to manage these types of presentations in order to obtain better outcomes for children. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

See also:

• Children's doctors given fabricated illness guidance BBC News

Frustrated, angry and unfair: staff experiences of DNAR decision-making in 2020

Frustrated, angry and unfair: staff experiences of DNAR decision-making in 2020 This report provides findings and recommendations from BIHR's research with staff members working across health, care and social work, who have shared their experiences of DNAR (Do Not Attempt Resuscitation) decisions. These recommendations focus on both the current Covid-19 context and the wider use of DNAR orders in “ordinary” times, and the need for them to be framed exactly as they are, as human rights issues. British Institute of Human Rights 

Workforce Race Equality Standard, summary briefing on 2020 national findings

Workforce Race Equality Standard, summary briefing on 2020 national findings The 2020 NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) report provides the most comprehensive collation of data available on racial inequalities in the NHS workforce, and at this stage provides the opportunity to analyse trends over a five-year period. NHS Providers 

Official Statistics: Health Inequalities Dashboard: March 2021 data update

Official Statistics: Health Inequalities Dashboard: March 2021 data update The Health Inequalities Dashboard presents data on health inequalities for England, English regions, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities. Public Health England 

Official Statistics: Dementia profile: March 2021 update

Official Statistics: Dementia profile: March 2021 update Updated statistics on dementia prevalence, hospital admissions, care and mortality, at the national and subnational geographical areas in England. Public Health England 

Statement to Parliament: Our vaccination programme is a national success story

Statement to Parliament: Our vaccination programme is a national success story Oral statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the impact of the vaccine roll-out, and efforts to contain the new variant of concern first identified in Manaus in Brazil. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Research and analysis: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England
• Guidance: Suspected acute viral respiratory infections: managing outbreaks in schools Public Health England

Covid Brazil variant 'may spread more easily'

Covid Brazil variant 'may spread more easily' The Brazil coronavirus variant now found in the UK appears more contagious and may evade immunity provided by past infection, scientists say.

Experiences from Manaus - the Amazonian city hit hard by the P.1 variant - suggest it could be up to twice as transmissible as earlier Covid there, the first detailed study suggests. BBC News

See also:

• Genomics and epidemiology of a novel SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Manaus, Brazil (preprint) Imperial College London and University of Sao Palo
• Covid vaccine being tested in patients with low immunity  BBC News
• What does Covid testing in schools look like?  BBC News
• Covid and dementia - 'let them see their families'  BBC News
• Britain's Covid vaccines should cut the risk of dying or being hospitalised MORE in younger adults The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: UK narrows search for missing Brazil variant case to South East The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Eight out of England's 10 Covid hotspots have prisons The Daily Mail
• Covid deaths in England and Wales falling fastest among people over 80 The Guardian
• Healthcare professionals in the UK have a moral duty to get the Covid jab | Frances Ryan The Guardian
• Covid: Matt Hancock rules out regional approach to easing lockdown restrictions The Independent

NHS reforms risk sowing confusion and undermining safety, MPs warned

NHS reforms risk sowing confusion and undermining safety, MPs warned A bid for more control over the NHS by ministers risks undermining patient safety and sowing confusion over who is ultimately responsible for services, MPs have been warned. The Independent