Covid vaccine: Side effects and why it can’t give you the virus

Covid vaccine: Side effects and why it can’t give you the virus Coronavirus vaccines help protect people from getting seriously ill if they come into contact with the disease. But how do they work? And will a vaccine make you feel unwell?

The BBC's CrowdScience presenter Marnie Chesterton explains why a Covid vaccine can't give you the virus, and why it's normal to experience some mild side effects, such as a headache or a raised temperature. BBC News

See also: 

• Middle-aged women 'worst affected by long Covid', studies find BBC News
• Covid: Intensive-care patients moved hundreds of miles BBC News
• Coronavirus: EU plans tougher controls on vaccine exports BBC News
• Four of five 'long Covid' patients still suffer debilitating symptoms five months later The Daily Mail
• What you can and can't do from March 29 as lockdown rules start easing The Daily Telegraph
• It's not 'greed' behind the Covid vaccine success. It's state finance and the NHS The Guardian
• More than 80% of people who were reluctant to accept vaccine in December change their mind The Independent
• India finds ‘double mutant’ Covid variant with ‘increased infectivity’ The Independent

Andrea Leadsom review proposes 'Start for Life' package for new UK parents

Andrea Leadsom review proposes 'Start for Life' package for new UK parents All prospective parents should be able to access a “Start for Life” package of services that brings together the support available in their local area, to prevent families falling through the cracks, the government adviser Andrea Leadsom is urging.

Leadsom, who was leader of the House of Commons in Theresa May’s government, is chairing a review of the experience of families during the crucial first 1,001 days of their babies’ lives. The Guardian

See also:

• Government publishes review to improve babies' and children's healthy development Department of Health and Social Care

NHS Scotland staff to be offered at least 4% pay rise

NHS Scotland staff to be offered at least 4% pay rise More than 154,000 NHS Scotland staff are to be offered a pay rise of at least 4% by the Scottish government. 

The move will benefit employees with contracts under the Agenda for Change system, which would also give staff at the lowest pay point a 5.4% increase. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS staff in Scotland to be offered 4% pay rise BBC News

Number of NHS patients in pain 'worse than death' has DOUBLED in a year, study claims

Number of NHS patients in pain 'worse than death' has DOUBLED in a year, study claims Twice as many NHS patients waiting for surgery are gritting their teeth through pain 'worse than death' now than before Covid, scientists say.

Edinburgh University experts found a third of patients waiting for hip replacements in September were living in agony. For comparison, the figure was fewer than a fifth before the pandemic. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The number of patients “worse than death” while waiting for a hip or knee arthroplasty has nearly doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic: a UK nationwide survey (open access) The Bone and Joint Journal

Three Covid deaths in one day brings stark reminder Northamptonshire is not out of the woods yet

Three Covid deaths in one day brings stark reminder Northamptonshire is not out of the woods yet Front-line staff continue to battle on as three deaths of Covid-19 patients are recorded in a single day at Northampton General Hospital.

Latest figures published by NHS England today (Tuesday) — on the anniversary of the first coronavirus lockdown starting — showed the three deaths on Sunday (March 21). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Corby's Covid cases still causing concern ahead of Rule of Six return on Monday Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Full PPE, video calls, tough challenges and teamwork: Northampton intensive care nurse reflects on pandemic year Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• A year like no other: KGH's traumatic battle with Covid Northamptonshire Telegraph
• A year like no other: the Corby baby born on the stroke of lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Remembering 1,400 who have died across Northamptonshire's neighbourhoods a year on from first lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph

Forget Brexit at your peril: how it will affect the NHS in 2021

Forget Brexit at your peril: how it will affect the NHS in 2021 Much has happened since the UK left the single market and customs union at the start of the year, not least another dreadful wave of Covid-19 and the headlines being dominated by the vaccine rollout on either side of the Channel. But with Brexit already having an effect on UK health care and policy, Mark Dayan and Martha McCarey explore five issues that will come to the surface this year for the NHS. Nuffield Trust

Medical Technology Access Accelerator

Medical Technology Access Accelerator The NHS has long wrestled with the challenge of creating a system that allows for the systematic uptake and spread of innovation. Over many years, a number of reports have been published that have given rise to new organisations and Departments charged with solving this problem. At present, however, the NHS has not found a way to pull through innovative products – meaning patients miss out. For innovators, the system remains difficult to navigate and uptake is at best patchy, and at worst non-existent.

In this report, we propose eleven elements of the Access Accelerator for a more efficient system of innovation uptake to take best advantage of proven medical technology. The Medical Technology Group

Ethnic diversity in fertility treatment 2018

Ethnic diversity in fertility treatment 2018 This report looks at how access to, and outcomes of fertility treatment, differed by ethnic group between 2014 and 2018. It finds disparities in the experience of patients from ethnic minority backgrounds and makes recommendations for the HFEA, fertility clinics and commissioners to help better understand the root of these inequalities so that action can be taken to improve access and outcomes for ethnic minority groups. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

One year on: Three myths about COVID-19 that the data proved wrong

One year on: Three myths about COVID-19 that the data proved wrong The charts in this analysis highlight three ‘myths’ that were prevalent at the very start of the pandemic. We use a common measure ‘years of life lost’ to describe what each death meant. The Health Foundation

Covid-19 one year on

Covid-19 one year on As we pass the one-year anniversary of the start of lockdown in the United Kingdom, the good news is that the Covid-19 crisis is clearly receding. We will need a public inquiry to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the response and where mistakes were made (leaving the UK, for now, with one of the highest death tolls). The King's Fund

Shaping the Covid decade: addressing the long-term societal impacts of Covid-19

Shaping the Covid decade: addressing the long-term societal impacts of Covid-19 This report argues that the societal impacts of the pandemic have exposed several gaps in public policy making that the government now has the opportunity to address. It suggests seven strategic goals for policymakers to pursue: build multi-level governance; improve knowledge, data and information linkage and sharing; prioritise digital infrastructure; reimagine urban spaces; create an agile education and training system; strengthen community-led social infrastructure; and promote a shared social purpose. British Academy

COVID treatment developed in the NHS saves a million lives

COVID treatment developed in the NHS saves a million lives Dexamethasone, an inexpensive and widely available steroid, has saved around one million lives worldwide since its discovery as an effective treatment for COVID-19 in a clinical trial in the NHS.

New figures, published today, show that use of the drug has so far saved 22,000 lives in the UK and an estimated one million worldwide. NHS England 

Lockdown anniversary: Hospital workers on a year of Covid

Lockdown anniversary: Hospital workers on a year of Covid For a year we have all lived under Covid-19 restrictions. But how have hospital staff dealt with fighting the pandemic at work and living under lockdown at home?

Four staff from University Hospital Southampton tell the BBC about the impact of the last year on their home and work lives. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Deaths below average for first time since summer BBC News
• How Iceland clamped down to conquer coronavirus BBC News
• Covid: The countries that nailed it, and what we can learn from them BBC News
• Where is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made? BBC News
• Pfizer launches first clinical trial of a PILL to treat COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• Foreign holidays could trigger ANOTHER UK-wide lockdown, experts warn The Daily Mail
• NHS intensive care staff suffer trauma levels twice those of military veterans, as experts warn of impact of 'pure hell' The Daily Telegraph
• Minute's silence for UK's Covid dead marks year since first lockdown The Guardian
• Boris Johnson admits regrets over handling of first Covid wave The Guardian
• Controversy over new AstraZeneca trial data raises more unwanted vaccine questions The Independent
• No decision yet on whether UK children will get Covid vaccine, says government adviser The Independent
• Safety probe launched into NHS 111 Covid triage service The Independent

Training for mental health leads in English schools 'not yet started'

Training for mental health leads in English schools 'not yet started' Training for mental health leaders in schools, a key part of the government’s plan to improve children’s wellbeing, was halted in January 2020 and delayed further as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it has emerged.

The revelation came during a parliamentary health and social care committee meeting, at which the NHS England director of mental health was forced to deny that they had run out of beds for children and young people needing urgent support owing to a Covid-related surge in demand. The Guardian 

Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal

Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal Ministers have been accused of “knowingly exposing” NHS and private patients to safety risks after delaying again a full response to the inquiry into the Ian Paterson scandal.

Victims of rogue surgeon Ian Paterson, who was jailed in 2017 for carrying out unnecessary surgery on patients, told The Independent there was a “clear and present danger” of similar crimes being committed without urgent action being taken. The Independent 

What's the deal with NHS pay rises?

What's the deal with NHS pay rises? Following the government’s proposal to raise NHS salaries in England by 1% from next year, the Daily Mail claimed that, in fact, many staff will get a 1.7% increase to their wages.

This isn’t technically accurate and misrepresents the extra 0.7% funding the government has put into NHS staff pay. Full Fact

Northamptonshire to join in 'national day of reflection' to mark one year since first lockdown

Northamptonshire to join in 'national day of reflection' to mark one year since first lockdown The Prince of Wales will lead a minute's silence at noon today as Northamptonshire joins the rest of Britain in a day of national reflection, remembering those who have died during the coronavirus crisis. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• You could be fined £5,000 for going abroad under new Covid laws - the rules explained Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• A year like no other: the Corby Covid survivor who is glad to be alive Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hundreds of depression and anxiety therapy sessions carried out online in Northamptonshire

Hundreds of depression and anxiety therapy sessions carried out online in Northamptonshire Hundreds of therapy sessions for depression and anxiety are carried out online by mental health patients in Northamptonshire.

NHS Digital figures show that NHS Northamptonshire CCG held 715 video appointments and 20 online therapy sessions in December. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health state life expectancies by national deprivation deciles, England: 2017 to 2019

Health state life expectancies by national deprivation deciles, England: 2017 to 2019 Life expectancy and years expected to live in "Good" health and disability-free using national indices of deprivation to measure socioeconomic inequalities in England. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Latest data shows record levels of health inequality prior to the pandemic The Health Foundation
• Life expectancy in the poorest parts of England is a DECADE lower than in the richest The Daily Mail

National Education and Training Survey 2020

National Education and Training Survey 2020 This survey gathers opinions from students about their time in clinical placements, asking them to provide feedback on what worked well and what they think could be improved. The results offer universities, colleges, healthcare placement providers and Health Education England further insight into the quality of the clinical learning environment. This year, as students may be undertaking clinical placements during pandemic surges, the survey provides an additional opportunity to understand their experience and any impact on the quality of training. Results of the survey are now available below by region and by profession Health Education England

GP access during Covid-19

GP access during Covid-19 This report looks at how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way people access their GP and how this affected people's experience of care. Whilst remote consultations have made getting care quicker, more efficient and easier to fit around their lives for many people, many people are struggling to access care from their GP practice, leaving them feeling frustrated and confused. Certain groups also risk being left behind, such as older people, disabled people, people affected by homelessness and on low incomes, and those whose first language isn’t English. Healthwatch

UK government sets out bold vision for the future of clinical research delivery

UK government sets out bold vision for the future of clinical research delivery Patients, clinicians and researchers across the whole of the UK are set to benefit from the ambitious vision for the future of clinical research delivery. Department of Health and Social Care

Legal footing for national unlocking set out ahead of vote

Legal footing for national unlocking set out ahead of vote The government has set out regulations that will pave the way to the easing of all restrictions from 21 June. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• NHS jabs 27 people a second on ‘super saturday’ for vaccine programme NHS England

Coronavirus: Third wave will 'wash up on our shores', warns Johnson

Coronavirus: Third wave will 'wash up on our shores', warns Johnson Boris Johnson has warned the effects of a third wave of coronavirus will "wash up on our shores" from Europe.

The PM said the UK should be "under no illusion" we will "feel effects" of growing cases on the continent.

One of his ministers, Lord Bethell, also warned the UK might put "all our European neighbours" on the red list of countries, where arrivals are either banned or put in quarantine hotels. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid lockdown: Seven enduring claims fact-checked BBC News
• Covid: UK death rate 'no longer Europe's worst' by winter BBC News
• Coronavirus: How the common cold can boot out Covid BBC News
• Covid-19: One year of lockdowns across the UK BBC News
• Covid: Lockdown habits could outlast the pandemic, poll suggests BBC News
• Covid fines: Looking back on a year of pandemic rule-breaking BBC News
• Staggering graph shows how Covid hospital admissions are plummeting in Britain but soaring in the EU The Daily Mail
• 'New York' Covid variant that may evade vaccine-triggered immunity found in UK The Daily Mail
• Angela Merkel backs EU chief over AstraZeneca vaccine threat as she extends lockdown amid third wave The Daily Telegraph
• Dexamethasone hailed as lifesaver for up to a million Covid patients worldwide The Guardian
• A year inside: what shielding has meant for the most vulnerable - podcast The Guardian
• 'I've lost who I was': UK pauses to reflect on year of Covid The Guardian
• Why are the EU and UK engulfed in a row over vaccine supplies? The Independent
• Pandemic saw 1.5million years of life lost across the UK The Independent
• How much has Covid-19 cost the UK? From furlough to NHS spending, the financial toll of the pandemic so far iNews

‘We have to remember, learn and prepare’: Is the UK ready for the next pandemic?

‘We have to remember, learn and prepare’: Is the UK ready for the next pandemic? ne year has passed since Britain was first plunged into lockdown. So what lessons have been learned – and is the nation now better equipped at dealing with future outbreaks? The Independent 

Hospitals across Europe scramble to replace millions of IV kits amid fear of infections

Hospitals across Europe scramble to replace millions of IV kits amid fear of infections Hospitals across Europe, including Britain, as well as the Middle East and Africa are scrambling to replace millions of pieces of equipment used to treat patients, as fears grow that they could cause infections after a company was discovered to have falsified sterilisation records for more than a decade. The Independent 

NHS overseas doctors: hundreds of senior medics demand review of 'inhumane' visa rules for elderly parents

NHS overseas doctors: hundreds of senior medics demand review of 'inhumane' visa rules for elderly parents Four past presidents of Royal Colleges are among 315 signatories to letter calling for change to the immigration rules concerning adult dependent relatives. iNews

Public health boss 'disappointed' by Covid case rates in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough

Public health boss 'disappointed' by Covid case rates in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough As latest figures show an increase in Covid cases in Northamptonshire, it is the cases in the north of the county that are driving the numbers up again. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Jo Whiley: Sister Frances to get first Covid vaccination BBC Northampton
• In pictures: Organiser pleased as 44 get coronavirus vaccination at Northampton mosque pop-up clinic Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby school forced to shut to all infants after Covid outbreak Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire hospital chief: "Less restricted visiting is coming in the next few weeks"

Northamptonshire hospital chief: "Less restricted visiting is coming in the next few weeks" The chief of Northamptonshire's hospitals has spoken about plans to relax visiting restrictions and restart more non-urgent care appointments. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northampton care home residents at risk of malnutrition or dehydration, says CQC

Northampton care home residents at risk of malnutrition or dehydration, says CQC Residents at a Northampton care home were at risk of malnutrition or dehydration, according to the healthcare watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has downgraded St John's Home's rating from 'good' in 2019 to 'requires improvement' after a critical inspection. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• St John's Home inspection report Care Quality Commission

Developing clinical leaders through innovation

Developing clinical leaders through innovation In 2016, I read about the leadership development opportunities offered by shadow boards. Shadow boards offer staff members the opportunity to work with senior leaders on strategic projects and gain an understanding and knowledge of working at board level. I wanted to create something similar with trainee doctors and the trainee leadership board was born. It offered a small group of next-generation clinical leaders at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust an opportunity to learn about leadership in the NHS, take on one of the trust’s challenges and present their solutions to the board. The King's Fund

Global report on ageism

Global report on ageism This report outlines a framework for action to reduce ageism including specific recommendations for different actors (e.g. government, UN agencies, civil society organizations, private sector). It brings together evidence on the nature and magnitude of ageism, its determinants and its impact. It outlines what strategies work to prevent and counter ageism, identifies gaps and proposes future lines of research to improve understanding of ageism. It also includes a discussion on the impact of ageism on health. World Health Organization 

The UK nursing labour market review 2020

The UK nursing labour market review 2020 This report examines the shape, size and state of the nursing labour market, analysing trends in the employment and training of nursing staff across the UK economy. Royal College of Nursing 

Caring as a social determinant of health: findings from a rapid review of reviews and analysis of the GP Patient Survey

Caring as a social determinant of health: findings from a rapid review of reviews and analysis of the GP Patient Survey Public Health England commissioned Newcastle University to explore the consequences of being an unpaid carer of older people and identify evidence about how best to support this group of carers. This report found a lack of clear and robust evidence about how best to support people caring for older populations, and gaps in evidence on key outcomes. It concludes that unpaid caring should be considered a social determinant of health. 

Half of all adults in UK receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Half of all adults in UK receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine Half of all adults in the UK have received their first dose of the (coronavirus) COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures show.

The UK health services vaccinated a total of 26.8 million people between 8 December and 19 March with first doses, while 2.1 million people have had their second dose so far. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Groundbreaking new technology to detect known variants of concern Department of Health and Social Care
• Extra £47.6 million for Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre Department of Health and Social
• Trials to find preventative COVID-19 treatments for most vulnerable to launch in UK Department of Health and Social
• NHS Vaccination programme protects almost 2.8 Million in record week NHS England

Covid vaccine: US trial of AstraZeneca jab confirms safety

Covid vaccine: US trial of AstraZeneca jab confirms safety Results from the long-awaited US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine are out and confirm that the shot is both safe and highly effective.

More than 32,000 volunteers took part, mostly in America, but also in Chile and Peru.

The vaccine was 79% effective at stopping symptomatic Covid disease and 100% effective at preventing people from falling seriously ill. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Half of UK adults receive first vaccine dose BBC News
• Why are some towns struggling to shake off Covid-19? BBC News
• Coronavirus vaccines: PM to telephone EU leaders in bid to stop export ban being imposed BBC News
• Covid: Masks and social distancing 'could last years' BBC News
• Travel corridors with Europe let 'significant' number of Covid cases into UK The Daily Mail
• Covid Europe: UK had highest excess death toll after first wave, interactive ONS map shows The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus may cause deafness, tinnitus and vertigo, study says The Daily Telegraph
• Professor Neil Ferguson on the Covid year that shattered our way of life – podcast The Guardian
• EU export ban would delay UK Covid vaccine drive by two months The Guardian
• UK sees record 844,000 vaccine doses given on single day The Independent
• Covid case decline slows in England as Europe braces for third wave  The Independent

We doctors must learn from what went wrong with 'do not resuscitate' orders | Rachel Clarke

We doctors must learn from what went wrong with 'do not resuscitate' orders | Rachel Clarke Patients and their families were not consulted. The CQC inquiry shows that their trust should never be taken for granted

As patients, we literally surrender our bodies and minds into our doctors’ hands. We could not be more vulnerable. For a clinician to exploit this power in any way at all is monstrous, an affront to decency. The Guardian 

NHS steps up help for women suffering abuse or assault after Sarah Everard death

NHS steps up help for women suffering abuse or assault after Sarah Everard death Women suffering domestic abuse or sexual assault are being encouraged to contact the NHS for support, after numbers seeking help halved during the first lockdown.

Health chiefs issued the call to women who are suffering in the wake of Sarah Everard’s death, which prompted large numbers of women to reveal their experiences of assaults and harassment. The Independent

See also:

• NHS urges sex crime and abuse victims to seek help NHS England

Northamptonshire total nears 280,000 as vaccine experts confirm Covid jabs are safe

Northamptonshire total nears 280,000 as vaccine experts confirm Covid jabs are safe Northamptonshire's Covid-19 vaccination teams are urging people not to be put off booking jabs after fears of possible side-effects were rubbished by regulators.

Latest NHS figures published yesterday (Thursday) showed 262,100 people in the county received at least one dose of the life-saving vaccine up to March 14. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

See also: 

• Nearly half of staff at Northampton General Hospital suffered work-related stress last year Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Pop-up coronavirus vaccination clinic at Northampton mosque to encourage harder-to-reach communities to get jab Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Come on Northamptonshire, I know we can do this!' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Health chiefs "hopeful" Northamptonshire hospitals won't see Covid patients if cases go up Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Covid vaccine appointments 'will not be cancelled' - and second doses will go ahead despite delays Northamptonshire Telegraph
• No-one will be left behind! Northamptonshire's vaccines boss' vow after NHS warns of delays Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Opportunities missed' to save homeless man, review finds

'Opportunities missed' to save homeless man, review finds Opportunities were missed to protect a homeless man who died despite being known by councils, police and hospital workers, a review has concluded.

The Safeguarding Adult Review was commissioned following the death of Jonathan Upex in a Wellingborough hotel in 2019.

It found more than 700 case records had been lodged against his name in a year. BBC Northampton

Roadworks will split Northampton General Hospital in two this weekend

Roadworks will split Northampton General Hospital in two this weekend Anyone heading to Northampton General Hospital this weekend is being warned to plan ahead as roads around the site will be effectively split in two.

Giant cranes move in from 8pm tonight to carry out work as part of a facelift for the southern entrance at NGH. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

The Royal College – Our Professional Home: An independent review on diversity and inclusion for the Royal College of Surgeons of England

The Royal College – Our Professional Home: An independent review on diversity and inclusion for the Royal College of Surgeons of England An independent review into the diversity of the leadership of the surgical profession and of the Royal College of Surgeons.

See also:

• Hospital operating theatres plagued by racist, sexist and homophobic abuse The Independent

The 12-month stretch: where the Government has delivered – and where it has failed – during the Covid-19 crisis

The 12-month stretch: where the Government has delivered – and where it has failed – during the Covid-19 crisis This briefing note explores the past 12 months of the pandemic through the health crisis, the economic crisis, and their impact on households’ ability to cope financially. It considers the big picture of what policy makers have done, how well they have done it, and where it’s left people, both in terms of health and economic outcomes. It concludes that the past year has been marked by successes on income support and vaccines, but also failures on lockdown that have cost lives and deepened the economic crisis, and a legacy of inequality that needs to be addressed in the recovery. Resolution Foundation 

£25 million boost for nurse training

£25 million boost for nurse training The government has announced a £25 million boost for nurse training. The funding will see nurses and other healthcare students benefit from expanded virtual training and the launch of a new national critical care qualification for qualified nurses. NHS Employers 

Research and analysis: Inequalities in oral health in England

Research and analysis: Inequalities in oral health in England This report describes the current picture of oral health inequalities and oral health services inequalities in England and ways to reduce them. Public Health England 

Health Secretary: driving digital in the NHS

Health Secretary: driving digital in the NHS In his first major digital transformation speech since the pandemic began, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock has spoken about how technology has made a greater impact on the ability of health and care providers to respond to COVID-19 than any other sector, and the vital role it will play in the future of healthcare as the government focus shifts to build back better.

In his speech at Digital Health Rewired, the Health Secretary outlined the scale of the progress that has been made in health and care adopting technology during the pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care 

£7 billion for NHS and social care for COVID-19 response and recovery

£7 billion for NHS and social care for COVID-19 response and recovery A funding package of £7 billion has been confirmed for health and social care services, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced today.

The NHS will receive £6.6 billion in additional funding over the next 6 months to support the continuation of the NHS response to COVID-19, and the recovery of elective services as hospitalisations continue to fall. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Transparency data: Coronavirus England briefing, 18 March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 18 March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Shielding advice for the clinically extremely vulnerable to stop from April Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: trend in deaths within 28 days of a positive test Public Health England

AstraZeneca: UK clot review confirms safety of vaccine

AstraZeneca: UK clot review confirms safety of vaccine There is no evidence the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine causes blood clots, say UK and EU regulators after a "thorough and careful review".

The MHRA and the EMA say people can have confidence in the vaccine's benefits and should get immunised, despite some countries pausing use.

But anyone with a headache lasting more than four days after vaccination should seek medical advice, as a precaution. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19 nearly disabled NHS says hospital boss BBC News
• UK's death rate 7% above normal in 2020 BBC News
• Covid vaccine: PM to have AstraZeneca jab as he urges public to do the same BBC News
• Coronavirus: The student nurses behind the masks BBC News
• Covid UK: Daily deaths down 47% in a week to 95 as cases drop 7% to 6,303 The Daily Mail
• Britain's Covid vaccine shortage may delay lockdown-easing plans, expert warns The Daily Mail
• AstraZeneca and Pfizer Covid vaccines more effective against Brazilian variant than initially feared The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccine dip spotlights tensions between Matt Hancock and NHS The Guardian
• UK must be wary of South Africa variant as third wave hits Europe, Neil Ferguson says The Independent

Underfunded but ‘fabulously well organised’: a hospital trust chief on the NHS

Underfunded but ‘fabulously well organised’: a hospital trust chief on the NHS University College London’s Marcel Levi talks openly about what he loves and loathes about the health service

A service so underfunded that hospital roofs leak, is worryingly reliant on overseas staff and with an “insular” culture that repels fresh ideas – but which has also performed superbly to save lives during the Covid pandemic. After four years running one of Britain’s biggest hospitals Prof Marcel Levi has some strong views on the NHS and the government’s stewardship of the nation’s most venerated institution. The Guardian

Covid-19: Corby 'might be left behind' as lockdown lifts

Covid-19: Corby 'might be left behind' as lockdown lifts The town with the highest Covid-19 case rate in England "might get left behind" as lockdown eases, a university professor warned.

In the week to 13 March, Corby in Northamptonshire had 181.4 cases per 100,000 people.

This was a 46% increase on the previous week and more than three times the England-wide rate. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Key workers can now get rapid Covid-19 tests in Daventry — even if they don't have symptoms Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• UK expected to see ‘significant reduction’ in Covid vaccine supply in April - here’s why Northamptonshire Telegraph
• More cases of highly transmissible Brazil and South African Covid variants found in England - the areas affected Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering nurse 'thrilled' by letter from Jacinda Ardern

Kettering nurse 'thrilled' by letter from Jacinda Ardern An NHS nurse said she was "thrilled" to receive a letter from her "idol", New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Dione Rogers's partner, Richard Adams, wrote to the leader and told her about the nurse's work at Kettering General Hospital. BBC Northampton

More than health care: why the NHS is a force for tackling poverty

More than health care: why the NHS is a force for tackling poverty As the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted existing health inequalities in UK society, it has also renewed a focus on poverty. People experiencing poverty are at the deep end of health inequalities, and are also more likely to be a part of minoritised groups who also experience health inequalities as a result of, for example, race, gender and disability. It’s important that work addressing health inequalities is also explicit about the impact of poverty, because those affected by poverty have a high risk of the worst health outcomes. The King's Fund 

Protect, respect, connect – decisions about living and dying well during COVID-19

Protect, respect, connect – decisions about living and dying well during COVID-19 Our review of ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ decisions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were concerns that ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) decisions were being made without involving people, or their families and/or carers if so wished, and were being applied to groups of people, rather than taking into account each person’s individual circumstances. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Improved oversight and reform needed as pressures of pandemic shine light on inconsistent and concerning approaches to DNACPR decisions Care Quality Commission
• Covid-19: Concern over 'do not resuscitate' decisions during pandemic BBC News
• Covid-19: Sister 'written off' by do-not-resuscitate order BBC News
• Care home residents put on 'do not resuscitate' orders without consent The Daily Telegraph
• Blanket 'do not resuscitate' orders imposed on English care homes, finds CQC The Guardian
• Hundreds of patients including care home residents subjected to unlawful ‘do not resuscitate’ orders, CQC confirms The Independent 
• Human rights of more than 500 people may have been breached in COVID-related 'do not resuscitate' decisions, shock report claims Sky News

Highly specialised services 2019

Highly specialised services 2019 This report provides information about highly specialised services in 2019.

It comprises: a description of each service; a list of the expert centres that delivered the service; NHS England’s total expenditure for each service; a measure of the activity that each service undertakes; clinical outcomes; and information about geographical equity of access to the service. NHS England 

More than 25 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 25 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 25 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Figures out today show the UK health services vaccinated a total of 25,273,226 people between 8 December and 16 March with first doses of the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, while 1,759,445 people have had their second dose. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 17 March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS England invites everyone aged 50 and over to be jabbed as NHS vaccination programme marks 100th day NHS England
• Guidance: COVID-19: letter to clinically extremely vulnerable people Public Health England
• PHE study shows three-quarters of over 70s have COVID-19 antibodies Public Health England
• Guidance: PHE monitoring of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination Public Health England

Covid vaccine: India shortfall behind UK's supply delay

Covid vaccine: India shortfall behind UK's supply delay An expected reduction in the UK's Covid vaccine supply next month is due to a delay in the delivery of five million Oxford-AstraZeneca doses from India.

The shipment, produced by the Serum Institute of India, has been held up by four weeks, the BBC has been told.

NHS England warned of a reduction in supply in April in a letter to local health organisations on Wednesday. BBC News

See also:

• Hancock: Covid vaccine supplies 'lumpy but on course' BBC News
• Coronavirus shielding advice to end on 1 April - Hancock BBC News
• Covid in Europe: Vaccine suspension hits rollout as cases rise BBC News
• Boris Johnson faces growing calls to launch public inquiry into handling of the coronavirus crisis The Daily Mail
• All over-50s can now book Covid vaccine in England The Daily Telegraph
• What will the delay mean for England's Covid vaccine programme? The Guardian
• 'It was avoidable': families bereaved in second wave call for Covid inquiry The Guardian
• Dominic Cummings: health department a 'smoking ruin' when Covid hit – video The Guardian
• Vaccination may ease long Covid symptoms, early research suggests The Independent
• ‘On bad days I can’t stand up in the shower: I am 31 and have had long Covid since March 2020’ The Independent

NHS chiefs fear collision course with ministers over Covid backlog

NHS chiefs fear collision course with ministers over Covid backlog Hospital bosses are bracing themselves for a clash with ministers over how quickly they can clear the backlog of NHS care that built up during the pandemic.

They are warning that it will take “years” to treat all those whose care was cancelled because Covid disrupted so many hospital services, particularly surgery and diagnostic tests. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS 'may need to prioritise those in need' rather than patients waiting longest ITV News

Return to schools NOT linked to latest spike in Corby Covid cases, say health chiefs

Return to schools NOT linked to latest spike in Corby Covid cases, say health chiefs Public Health chiefs insist Corby's latest jump in Covid-19 cases is not connected with students returning to classrooms.

The borough has one of the highest infection rates in the country again according to official Government figures, despite recent improvements. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Ten areas in and around Northampton with two Covid cases or less in the last week Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• People in their 40s could be offered Covid jab before Easter as rollout doubles its pace Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• One year on from when Northampton's shelves were left bare by Covid-19 panic buying Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Maternal mental health during a pandemic: a rapid evidence review of Covid-19's impact

Maternal mental health during a pandemic: a rapid evidence review of Covid-19's impact This rapid evidence review report (produced together with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance) looks at the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of new and expectant mothers and the support that’s been available during the pandemic. Centre for Mental Health

State of health and care: The NHS Long Term Plan after Covid-19

State of health and care: The NHS Long Term Plan after Covid-19 After a decade of austerity, The NHS Long Term Plan was meant to be a turning point for healthcare.

However, those plans have been severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Our new analysis shows the scale of the damage done by the pandemic across several major health conditions.

In a new report we recommend a package of six ambitious changes to ‘build back better’. Institute for Public Policy Research

See also: 

• NHS in England ‘needs £12 billion a year boost’ to recover from Covid Channel 4 News
• NHS staff should get 5% payrise next year, says thinktank The Guardian

Without skipping a beat: the case for better cardiovascular care after Coronavirus

Without skipping a beat: the case for better cardiovascular care after Coronavirus The toll of the Covid-19 pandemic on health far exceeds deaths caused directly by Covid-19. There have been widespread disruptions to routine and urgent health and care services, as well as the NHS Long Term Plan. As such, the health and care system needs not just to recover from Covid-19, but to ‘build back better’. This briefing considers the challenge in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) – the UK’s leading cause of death. Institute for Public Policy Research

Notable success of “Everyone In” exposed rough sleeping problem many times larger than Government “has previously acknowledged”

Notable success of “Everyone In” exposed rough sleeping problem many times larger than Government “has previously acknowledged” The notable pandemic response success of the "Everyone In" initiative has exposed gaps in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s approach to tackling rough sleeping, says the Public Accounts Committee in a report published today.

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Public Health England

See also: 

• Detailed guide: Households and bubbles of pupils, students and staff of schools, nurseries and colleges: get rapid lateral flow tests Department of Health and Social Care
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England

Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab safe, insists Hancock

Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab safe, insists Hancock The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is safe, the health secretary has said, after some European nations paused its use amid concern over blood clots.

Matt Hancock urged people to "listen to the regulators" and to "get the jab" as soon as they got the opportunity.

Some 13 countries have suspended use of the vaccine while they seek further clarification on its safety. BBC News

See also:

• Moderna begins testing Covid-19 vaccine on babies and young children BBC News
• 'The Gospel Truth?' Covid-19 vaccines and the danger of religious misinformation BBC News
• Covid: 'Prioritise prisoners for coronavirus vaccine' BBC News
• Half of all adults in the UK could be vaccinated by the end of THIS WEEK as total surges past 24m The Daily Mail
• Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine: which countries have paused jab and why The Guardian
• 'Somebody has to answer for this': voices from the frontline on why we need a Covid inquiry The Guardian
• Public support for Covid inquiry more than twice as high as opposition – poll The Guardian

Matt Hancock doubles down on NHS wages and insists 1% offer is a pay rise

Matt Hancock doubles down on NHS wages and insists 1% offer is a pay rise Matt Hancock has told MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee that a proposed 1 per cent pay rise for NHS staff would be a real pay rise because it was higher than inflation. The Independent

See also: 

• Matt Hancock insists NHS workers' 1% salary increase is a 'pay rise' and not real-terms cut - despite 1.5% inflation Sky News

Ministers seek powers to veto local NHS trust appointments

Ministers seek powers to veto local NHS trust appointments Ministers would have the power to veto the appointment of NHS chief executives and trust leaders under plans to reform the health service, it has emerged.

Health secretary Matt Hancock told MPs he wanted the ability to sign-off appointments of senior managers in the NHS, and that separately he was open to the idea of regulation for senior managers. The Independent

Securing a positive health care technology legacy from COVID-19

Securing a positive health care technology legacy from COVID-19 This long read explores the challenges of implementing health care technologies and investigates patient and staff experiences of technology during the first phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Health Foundation 

Building primary care teams remotely

Building primary care teams remotely A key plank of the government’s manifesto commitment to deliver 50 million more appointments in general practice is providing funding towards the cost of 26,000 new clinical roles. From pharmacists and physiotherapists to mental health practitioners and paramedics, these new roles will extend the workforce in primary care networks (PCN) and help to turn general practice into a truly team sport. The King's Fund 

Living with Covid19 – Second review

Living with Covid19 – Second review This is the second of two dynamic reviews of the evidence around people’s experience of the enduring symptoms following a Covid19 infection. National Institute for Health Research

See also:

• Long Covid more common in women and children and lasts for months, warns latest review The Independent

Government transparency and accountability during Covid 19: the data underpinning decisions

Government transparency and accountability during Covid 19: the data underpinning decisions In this report the Committee warns that the failure of government to provide sufficient explanation of the data underpinning key decisions during Covid-19 placed needless strain on public confidence. It urges the government to reinvigorate how data is communicated with the public and shared with partner agencies in the fight against Covid-19 to enable fast, flexible response to the future challenges of the pandemic, and ensure they are supported by society. Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee 

Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 VOC and VUI: investigating and managing individuals with a possible or confirmed case

Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 VOC and VUI: investigating and managing individuals with a possible or confirmed case Advice on the investigation and management of patients who may be infected with a new SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern. Public Health England

See also: 

• UK government announces partnership with British rapid test manufacturers Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: investigation and management of suspected SARS-CoV-2 reinfections Public Health England

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