Covid: Vaccine uptake among over 50s hits 95% in England

Covid: Vaccine uptake among over 50s hits 95% in England The percentage of over-50s vaccinated has hit 95% in England, NHS data shows.

The take-up among those aged 45-49 is at 59% after they started being offered the jab earlier this month.

But uptake among care home staff - one of the first groups to be offered the jab - is still around 80% despite attempts to get more to come forward. BBC News

See also:

• One Covid vaccine cuts infection risk in all age groups BBC News
• Covid England: Fewer than 900 people now fall ill from infection every day The Daily Mail
• Covid is no longer the leading cause of death in England and Wales The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccine boxes must be defaced before they are thrown away, official guidance warns The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Experts find variant from Tanzania that 'has more mutations than any known strain' The Daily Mail
• NHS allows G4S to force disabled patients to share ambulances during pandemic Disability News Service
• VIP lane for Covid suppliers left UK civil servants ‘drowning’ in non-credible bids The Guardian
• UK vaccines provide high protection against Kent variant, real-world study shows The Independent

Infant mortality in Birmingham 'not openly discussed'

Infant mortality in Birmingham 'not openly discussed' Infant mortality is not "openly discussed" among some communities, a charity worker in Birmingham said, as the city attempts to tackle a long-standing problem.

For the last decade, Birmingham has had one of the highest rates of infant mortality in England. BBC News 

BMI is no way to diagnose eating disorders. So why is it still being used?

BMI is no way to diagnose eating disorders. So why is it still being used? | Agnes Ayton A surge in cases during the pandemic has shone a light on how poor policymaking is in this area of mental health.

Agnes Ayton is chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ eating disorders faculty.

Eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental illnesses, but they are also highly treatable. The key is ensuring people can access the help they need as early as possible. Many people who have eating disorders are missing out on treatment because underfunded NHS services are using body mass index (BMI) as the main indicator to determine whether a person can access specialist care. The Guardian 

Serco takes a £15m pay-off after failing to secure £2bn NHS contract

Serco takes a £15m pay-off after failing to secure £2bn NHS contract One of the Government’s favoured outsourcing companies was paid £15m from NHS funds after leaving a joint venture providing pathology services in London following a failed bid for a new lucrative contract. iNews

'I’m not sure I dare think it, but things are starting to feel better'

'I’m not sure I dare think it, but things are starting to feel better' Column by the director of health for Northampton.

We have all now tentatively taken the first two steps on the ‘roadmap.’

With two more monumental steps to go, we are at least a county and a country enjoying and appreciating the great outdoors more than I can ever recall. I’m not sure I dare think it, but things are starting to feel better.  Northamptonshire Telegraph

NCT finds a quarter of new mothers are not asked about their mental health

NCT finds a quarter of new mothers are not asked about their mental health New mothers are still not being asked about their mental health despite GP practices in England now being funded to do so, according to new research by NCT.

See also:

• Most new mums say NHS six-week checks fail to focus on their health The Guardian

Covid: Government scientist warns of summer surge in cases

Covid: Government scientist warns of summer surge in cases The UK is likely to see a "summer surge" in Covid cases as lockdown is relaxed, a government scientist says.

Prof Adam Finn, of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, says modelling points to a rise in cases, as many adults are not immunised.

He said the UK was still "vulnerable" and the dates for easing restrictions may need adjusting. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: India sets global record for new cases amid oxygen shortage BBC News
• Covid-19 in India: Why second coronavirus wave is devastating BBC News
• Just 32 Britons have been hospitalised with coronavirus three weeks after being vaccinated The Daily Mail
• NHS unable to contact almost 1m vulnerable people during Covid pandemic The Daily Telegraph
• Pregnant women need better Covid safety at work, say campaigners The Guardian
• Influenza drug ‘good contender’ for at-home treatment against Covid-19 The Independent

Air pollution: Coroner calls for law change after Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah's death

Air pollution: Coroner calls for law change after Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah's death A coroner has called for a change in the law after air pollution led to the death of a nine-year-old girl.

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, died in 2013.

An inquest had found air pollution "made a material contribution" to her death. BBC News

See also:

• Air pollution: 'All children have the right to breathe clean air' BBC News

End NHS staff shortages now, Boris Johnson told

End NHS staff shortages now, Boris Johnson told There are almost 90,000 vacancies in England, says letter on behalf of 1.4m workers, while sickness and stress may prompt more to leave

Doctors, nurses and NHS bosses have pleaded with Boris Johnson to spend billions of pounds to finally end the chronic lack of staff across the health service.

The strain of working in a perpetually understaffed service is so great that it risks creating an exodus of frontline personnel, they warn the prime minister in a letter published on Wednesday. The Guardian

Eating disorders: families tube-feeding patients at home amid NHS bed shortage

Eating disorders: families tube-feeding patients at home amid NHS bed shortage Extremely unwell eating disorder patients are having to be tube fed at home by their families owing to a lack of hospital beds, as the Royal College of Psychiatrists reports a rise in people being treated in units without specialist support.

Leading psychiatrists are urging the government for an emergency cash investment as the pandemic has prompted a rise in demand for treatment for conditions such as anorexia, amid “desperate pressure in the system”. The Guardian 

Charity hands out record 2.5m emergency food parcels across UK

Charity hands out record 2.5m emergency food parcels across UK Food bank use rose a third during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Trussell Trust, which distributed a record 2.5 million parcels across the UK.

The charity handed out 2,537,198 emergency food parcels between April 2020 and March 2021. The Daily Telegraph

Corby Beanfield Covid test pilot scheme 'successful' as only ten per cent refuse

Corby Beanfield Covid test pilot scheme 'successful' as only ten per cent refuse An operation to target a Corby estate using an army of volunteers for an intensive door-to-door Covid blitz offering PCR and Lateral Flow (LFT) test kits has been 'successful'. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Fifteen alleged lockdown breachers from towns including Corby, Northampton and Irthlingborough to appear in court Daventry Express
• Kettering Traveller funeral: case dropped against man accused of breaching Covid laws Northampton Chronicle and Echo

KGH to build outdoor gym with Captain Tom's fundraising cash

KGH to build outdoor gym with Captain Tom's fundraising cash A new outdoor gym is on the cards for KGH thanks to charity funds raised by the late national hero Captain Sir Tom Moore.

The Rothwell Road hospital plans to build the gym, with 12 exercise stations, in their pocket park area for staff and members of the public. Northamptonshire Telegraph

National addiction charity launches new homeless outreach programme in Northamptonshire

National addiction charity launches new homeless outreach programme in Northamptonshire A national charity which helps people beat addiction has launched a new homeless outreach programme in Northamptonshire.

Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity and one the UK’s largest providers of drug and alcohol treatment services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Financial incentives and prescribing behaviour in primary care

Financial incentives and prescribing behaviour in primary care Many health care systems prevent primary care clinicians from dispensing the drugs they prescribe due to concerns that this encourages excessive, ineffective or unnecessarily costly prescribing. This report uses data from the NHS to model the impact of clinican dispensing rights on prescribing behaviour. Centre for Health Economics, University of York 

Government launches COVID-19 Antivirals Taskforce to roll out innovative home treatments this autumn

Government launches COVID-19 Antivirals Taskforce to roll out innovative home treatments this autumn A new Antivirals Taskforce has been launched by the government to identify treatments for UK patients who have been exposed to COVID-19 to stop the infection spreading and speed up recovery time.

The taskforce will search for the most promising novel antiviral medicines that can be taken at home and support their development through clinical trials to ensure they can be rapidly rolled out to patients as early as the autumn. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• New global partnership launched to fight future pandemics Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: Preparing for future pandemics Department of Health and Social Care
• India added to the growing list of travel banned countries NHS Employers

Covid-19: India red list add 'may be too late', Prof Mark Walport says

Covid-19: India red list add 'may be too late', Prof Mark Walport says India's addition to the UK's "red list" of banned countries due to rising Covid cases and concerns over a new variant may have come too late, the UK's former chief scientific adviser has said.

Prof Mark Walport told the BBC he believed the new variant was "more transmissible" and there were "good reasons" for keeping it out of the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Johnson & Johnson vaccine: EU regulator says blood clot 'very rare side effect' BBC News
• Covid-19: Boris Johnson announces plan for pills to treat virus at home BBC News
• Coronavirus may NEVER be eradicated expert predicts The Daily Mail
• Covid-19: Britain records 33 Covid deaths as fatalities rise slightly on last week The Daily Mail
• Covid-19: GPs are told to CANCEL planned AstraZeneca vaccination appointments for pregnant women The Daily Mail
• UK in drive to develop drugs to take at home to ‘stop Covid in its tracks’ The Guardian
• NHS director warns health service 'won't stand for' anti-vaccine protests The Independent
• Scientists call for caution and calm over Covid variant detected in India The Independent

Suicide rate 'did not rise during first lockdown'

Suicide rate 'did not rise during first lockdown' The number of suicides in England did not rise following the first national lockdown in 2020, research has found.

Charities had reported more people seeking mental health support, leading to fears the number of suicides would also increase. BBC News

See also: 

• Suicide in England in the COVID-19 pandemic: Early observational data from real time surveillance (open access) Lancet Regional Health Europe 

The beauty ideal fuelling an illicit drugs trade

The beauty ideal fuelling an illicit drugs trade For Altou, a 19-year-old model, having a ‘slim thick’ body is the key to getting more likes and more work.

She’s one of thousands of women worldwide who have taken Apetamin, an appetite-stimulant promoted by social media influencers as a quick fix for the extreme hourglass figure popularised by celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

It’s widely available online. But a new BBC Three documentary, Dangerous Curves: Get Thicc, Get Sick?, reveals that many don’t realise Apetamin is actually an unlicensed medicine - and its misuse is causing serious harm. BBC News 

Lockdown baby boom may be on the way as NHS antenatal bookings rebound

Lockdown baby boom may be on the way as NHS antenatal bookings rebound Contrary to fears that the coronavirus pandemic could cause a “baby bust”, the numbers of women in England expecting a baby appear to be on the rise.

Maternity statistics collected by the NHS show that although there was a dip in the number of antenatal booking appointments in May 2020, numbers quickly rebounded and continued to grow. The number of antenatal booking appointments during the fourth quarter of 2020 was the highest for five years. The Guardian 

Ageing NHS hospitals hit by sewage leaks, power failures and rat infestations as maintenance backlog hits £9 billion

Ageing NHS hospitals hit by sewage leaks, power failures and rat infestations as maintenance backlog hits £9 billion Raw sewage flooding wards, power failures, and rat infestations were just some of more than 1,200 critical incidents at NHS trusts in the past year caused by ageing equipment and crumbling infrastructure.

NHS leaders have said more investment is needed to reverse a backlog in buildings maintenance across the health service which has now reached an unprecedented £9bn. The Independent 

David Cameron lobbied for NHS staff's personal data

David Cameron lobbied for NHS staff's personal data Former UK prime minister David Cameron lobbied the NHS for access to staff’s personal data, weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cameron was acting on behalf of financial services firm Greensill Capital, which he had financial interest in. His work for the firm, which filed for administration in March 2021, has led to increased scrutiny of private companies’ lobbying. Healthcare IT News

NHS activity tracker: April 2021

NHS activity tracker: April 2021 This report analyses the latest NHS activity figures across a range of services and sets out the trends in each clinical area. It highlights the scale of the backlogs caused by the ongoing pandemic and argues that multi-year financial support is required to help support the NHS to recover the backlogs. NHS Providers

Reconditioning the benefits system for a stronger COVID-19 recovery

Reconditioning the benefits system for a stronger COVID-19 recovery How can the benefits system support the nation’s health? The Health Foundation

Developing place-based partnerships: The foundation of effective integrated care systems

Developing place-based partnerships: The foundation of effective integrated care systems Integrated care systems (ICSs) now cover all areas of the country and will soon be established as statutory bodies with major responsibilities for NHS planning and funding. But most of the heavy lifting involved in integrating care and improving population health will happen more locally in the places where people live, work and access services, meaning place-based partnerships within ICSs will play a key role in driving forward change. The King's Fund

See also:

• Supporting place-based partnerships The King's Fund

Primary care networks and place-based working: addressing health inequalities in a Covid-19 world

Primary care networks and place-based working: addressing health inequalities in a Covid-19 world This report provides insights from those working to address health inequalities outside the NHS about how primary care, enabled by primary care networks, might access the breadth of potential solutions that are possible when they work in partnership with their communities and local partners. The Health Creation Alliance

Learning from the community response to Covid-19: how the NHS can support communities to keep people well

Learning from the community response to Covid-19: how the NHS can support communities to keep people well This report considers what all community-facing NHS organisations can learn from the community response to Covid-19. The report outlines practical guidance and recommendations to help build a future where people are at the heart of keeping communities well. The Health Creation Alliance 

9 in 10 pharmacies now offering free, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests

9 in 10 pharmacies now offering free, rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests Over 90% of community pharmacies in England now offering free, rapid tests for home use. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• 10 million people receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine Department of Health and Social Care
• Statement to Parliament: Statement on vaccination progress and new variants Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Vivaldi 2: coronavirus (COVID-19) care homes study report Department of Health and Social Care
• Corporate report: Coronavirus Act one-year report: March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: More than 10m people fully vaccinated in UK

Covid: More than 10m people fully vaccinated in UK More than 10 million people in the UK have received a second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the latest government figures.

It means more than 19% of UK adults are now fully vaccinated, while nearly 33 million people have had their first dose. BBC News

See also:

• Young people to be reinfected with Covid for study BBC News
• Covid-19 vaccines: What's happening to unused jabs? BBC News
• Covid contracts: PPE fixer who was Tory donor named in admin error BBC News
• India added to coronavirus ‘red list’ BBC News
• Covid in Uttar Pradesh: Coronavirus overwhelms India's most populous state BBC News
• Boris Johnson CANCELS trip to India amid surging coronavirus cases and alarm about new variant The Daily Mail
• Indian Covid variant 'poses a threat' to UK's lockdown-easing plans, expert warns The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Daily cases fall 20% in a week to 2,596 as deaths fall 43% to 34 The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 variants in the UK: What strains are of concern and under investigation? The DAily Telegraph
• Thousands could fly to England from India before it joins Covid travel ‘red list’ The Guardian
• India Covid variant arrives in UK: Everything we know The Independent
• Covid: Global death toll passes 3 million The Independent

Are black women getting enough support for mental health?

Are black women getting enough support for mental health? Black women are more likely than white women to experience common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, according to government figures.

Sectioning powers under the Mental Health Act also disproportionately affect black people. BBC News

Sickle cell patients are being ignored because they’re black, warn campaigners

Sickle cell patients are being ignored because they’re black, warn campaigners ublic services are dismissing sickle cell patients because the illness disproportionately affects Black people, campaigners have warned.

The blood disorder is prevalent among African and Caribbean communities and advocacy groups say this means it remains poorly understood within state institutions, often leading to the needless suffering and even death of those diagnosed. The Independent

Accidental overdose of hospital patients with paracetamol sparks investigation

Accidental overdose of hospital patients with paracetamol sparks investigation Patients have been significantly harmed, including suffering permanent damage to their liver, after being given accidental overdoses of paracetamol in hospital.

The NHS safety watchdog the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has now launched a national investigation after a number of incidents where adults with a low bodyweight were given too much paracetamol through an infusion, or IV drip, directly into their bloodstream. The Independent

NHS trust pleads guilty after ‘wholly avoidable’ death of week-old baby

NHS trust pleads guilty after ‘wholly avoidable’ death of week-old baby A hospital trust has pleaded guilty to a criminal charge brought by the NHS regulator over failings in care that led to the death of a newborn boy at just seven days old.

In the first prosecution of its kind East Kent hospitals university trust admitted that it failed to provide safe care and treatment for Harry Richford and his mother, Sarah, during his birth in November 2017 at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate, Kent. The Guardian

See also:

• Harry Richford: East Kent NHS Trust pleads guilty over baby death BBC News
• Harry Richford: East Kent NHS pleads guilty in maternity scandal case The Independent

Wellingborough overtakes Corby as county's Covid hotspot

Wellingborough overtakes Corby as county's Covid hotspot Corby no longer has Northamptonshire's highest seven-day rate of Covid-19 cases after months as the county's hotspot.

In figures released on Friday the steel town dropped to a weekly rate of 65 cases per 100,000 people after just three positive cases were added today. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• More than a quarter of Northamptonshire's care home staff have NOT had Covid jabs Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid vaccines 'safety net' in place to ensure no risk of Northamptonshire folk missing out on second jabs Northamptonshire Telegraph
• 77 cases of a new Indian Covid variant found in the UK could be ‘cause for concern’ Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital bosses have "robust plans" to tackle record waiting lists

Northampton General Hospital bosses have "robust plans" to tackle record waiting lists Northampton General Hospital bosses have "robust plans" in place to tackle record number of patients waiting more than a year for routine treatment.

Charities and health organisations are warning the Covid-19 pandemic is having a "catastrophic" impact on hospital services as numbers of patients across England waiting to start treatment hits new highs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Postnatal depression: 'I thought my son would be better off without me'

Postnatal depression: 'I thought my son would be better off without me' A new mother who suffered from postnatal depression has urged other women in the same situation to seek help.

Rebecca, from Northamptonshire, experienced anxiety and extremely low mood after the birth of her son Harry.

She said: "I got to a point where I thought Harry would be better off without me and he deserves a better mum than I could ever be."

Northamptonshire is one of 10 areas to trial a mental health hub to care for those with acute conditions. BBC Northampton

Recovering the NHS backlog in some places could take up to five years: bold transformative approach needed

Recovering the NHS backlog in some places could take up to five years: bold transformative approach needed NHS Providers says trusts are getting a clearer picture of the scale of the backlog confronting the health service, and the situation is very concerning.

The organisation which represents every NHS hospital, mental health, community and ambulance service in England says while the overall impact of COVID-19 on NHS waiting times is still emerging, early planning in the worst affected areas shows that, on current trajectories, tackling the problem could take three to five years.

See also:

• Dire statistics on routine operations prove the NHS is not 'open for business' The Daily Telegraph
• Covid backlog in NHS 'could take five years to clear' Metro
• COVID-19: 'A very significant problem' - Fears that patient backlog in some hospitals may last for years Sky News

JCVI issues new advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women

JCVI issues new advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women The JCVI has advised that pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the rest of the population, based on their age and clinical risk group. Public Health England

Covid: Indian variant being investigated in UK

Covid: Indian variant being investigated in UK Health officials are investigating whether a Covid variant first found in India spreads more easily and evades vaccines.

There is not yet enough data to classify it as a "variant of concern", a leading scientist has said.

But Dr Susan Hopkins of Public Health England said cases had been found in the UK that were not linked to travel, with their origin being investigated. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19 deaths pass three million worldwide BBC News
• Covid vaccine advice for pregnant women firmed up BBC News
• Coronavirus: Public Health England reports 77 cases of new Indian Covid variant in UK The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Nearly half of over-50s refuse the coronavirus vaccine in parts of England The Daily Mail
• Fears frontline NHS staff are refusing to get Covid vaccine The Guardian
• Government-approved Covid test supplier criticised for ‘appalling’ service The Independent
• Volunteers to be reinfected with Covid-19 to help improve vaccines The Independent

The disabled doctors not believed by their colleagues

The disabled doctors not believed by their colleagues People often feel nervous when they visit a doctor with some fearing their symptoms may not be believed. But what if you are the doctor, and your colleagues dismiss your disabilities and mental health difficulties? BBC News

'Staff have been treated like cannon fodder': NHS bosses issue stark warning on future of health service

'Staff have been treated like cannon fodder': NHS bosses issue stark warning on future of health service Hundreds of senior NHS managers have voiced their fears for the future of the health service amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis without a significant pay rise to help retain staff on the front line.

A survey of more than 800 senior NHS managers has revealed the extreme pressure some have been working under, with many working 20 or more hours of unpaid extra hours each week. The Independent

NHS England chair faces demands to explain role in Greensill lobbying

NHS England chair faces demands to explain role in Greensill lobbying The Conservative peer who chairs NHS England is facing demands to explain why he helped arrange for Greensill Capital to lobby senior health service bosses, with Labour describing his role as “shocking”.

David Prior is facing questions over a meeting he organised between the now collapsed finance firm’s founder Lex Greensill and the overall boss of the NHS and its chief financial officer. The Guardian

See also:

• Matt Hancock owns shares in NHS-approved firm BBC News
• Greensill lobbying: how did David Cameron target the NHS? The Guardian

NHS targets middle-aged men with online diabetes risk quiz

NHS targets middle-aged men with online diabetes risk quiz Middle-aged men in England are to be encouraged to take a short online quiz to test their vulnerability to type 2 diabetes, as part of an NHS campaign partly intended to prevent more Covid deaths.

The “know your risk” quiz, developed by Diabetes UK, asks seven questions about weight, height and waist size to establish a body mass index or BMI. Users are also asked whether any of their relatives have had diabetes. Results are given four bands from low to high risk. The Guardian 

Wonder drug set to help millions of NHS patients

Wonder drug set to help millions of NHS patients Adalimumab, known by the brand name Humira, dampens the inflammation that causes the joint pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis. The Daily Mail

Kettering and Rushden to get new Covid Lateral Flow Device testing sites

Kettering and Rushden to get new Covid Lateral Flow Device testing sites Two new Lateral Flow Device testing sites have been launched giving residents in Kettering and Rushden access to a community testing site. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Support for domestic violence victims in NHS 'highly inconsistent'

Support for domestic violence victims in NHS 'highly inconsistent' Support for domestic abuse victims in hospitals remains “highly inconsistent” more than 10 years after a major report concluded a lack of action to improve care in the NHS was “a disgrace”, Women’s Aid has warned. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Unemployment and mental health: Why both require action for our COVID-19 recovery

Unemployment and mental health: Why both require action for our COVID-19 recovery The relationship between mental health and unemployment is bi-directional. Good mental health is a key influence on employability, finding a job and remaining in that job. Unemployment causes stress, which ultimately has long-term physiological health effects and can have negative consequences for people’s mental health, including depression, anxiety and lower self-esteem. The Health Foundation

Reform of social care doomed to fail unless the structural issues of fragile provider market are addressed

Reform of social care doomed to fail unless the structural issues of fragile provider market are addressed A report from the Nuffield Trust warns that years of delay to social care reform and a fragmented market has left provider services unstable and without support for innovation.

See also:

• Fractured and forgotten? The social care provider market in England (report) Nuffield Trust
• Ongoing woes: the difficulties of the social care provider market Nuffield Trust

Nearly 1 in 12 people on NHS waiting lists have been stuck waiting over a year

Nearly 1 in 12 people on NHS waiting lists have been stuck waiting over a year Today’s figures paint a bleak picture of the challenges facing the English health service in the wake of Covid-19. As NHS staff have battled the pandemic, waiting times for routine care have increased. The King's Fund

See also:

• Significant investment needed as waiting list for routine hospital care continues to grow The Health Foundation

Survey shows doctors fear NHS will take years to recover from pandemic

Survey shows doctors fear NHS will take years to recover from pandemic As the country edges its way back towards normality, many doctors fear the NHS will take years to recover. According to our 10th survey of members, the majority of doctors (59%) say it will take at least 18 months to get the NHS back on an even keel, including almost a third (30%) who say the huge backlogs in care resulting from the pandemic will take more than 2 years to clear. Royal College of Physicians

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England releases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK.

The dominant variant continues to be VOC-20DEC-01 (B.1.1.7) and PHE will continue to monitor all variants closely. The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to remember: hands, face, space and follow the restrictions in place.

See also:

• Transparency data: Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England): 1 April to 7 April 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England

Brain clots 'more likely' with Covid infection than vaccine

Brain clots 'more likely' with Covid infection than vaccine The risk of developing a serious brain clot - known as a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) - is 8 to 10 times higher in people with Covid than those who get a vaccine, a study suggests.

Based on US data, the Oxford research team says people being vaccinated should be reassured by the findings.

It follows investigations into links between the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots. BBC News

See also:

• Cerebral venous thrombosis: a retrospective cohort study of 513,284 confirmed COVID-19 cases and a comparison with 489,871 people receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (open access) University of Oxford
• Covid: 'Getting the vaccine in Ramadan helps others' BBC News
• You're close enough to catch Covid from someone else if you can smell their breath, expert says The Daily Mail
• Fewer Britons are sticking to 10-day self-isolation following a positive test result, survey finds The Daily Mail
• Pfizer CEO says a THIRD Covid vaccine dose will be needed as soon as six months The Daily Mail
• Rapid Covid testing in England may be scaled back over false positives The Guardian
• What is a lateral flow Covid test and how accurate is it? The Guardian
• Covid: Past infection ‘does not protect young people against reinfection,’ study warns The Independent
• NHS trusts in London preparing to make Covid vaccinations compulsory for workers, leaked email reveals The Independent

Puberty blockers: NHS to set up independent review group

Puberty blockers: NHS to set up independent review group A new independent review group will assess the prescription of puberty blockers for under-16s, NHS England has announced.

Puberty blockers are prescribed to some young people who are experiencing gender dysphoria - a "mismatch" between their biological sex and gender identity. BBC News

Families need cannabis prescriptions support, say MPs and peers

Families need cannabis prescriptions support, say MPs and peers MPs and peers are calling for funding for families forced to buy medicinal cannabis for their children privately.

The treatment was made legal with a prescription in 2018 for those with an "exceptional clinical need".

But a cross-party letter from 100 politicians says only three NHS prescriptions have been given out since, forcing families to spend thousands on private treatments. BBC News 

Ethics row after human-monkey embryo created in major scientific breakthrough

Ethics row after human-monkey embryo created in major scientific breakthrough Scientists have grown human cells in monkey embryos with the aim to understand more about how cells develop and communicate with each other.

Researchers from the Salk Institute in California have produced what is known as monkey-human chimeras, with human stem cells - special cells that have the ability to develop into many different cell types - inserted in macaque embryos in petri dishes in the lab. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Human cells grown in monkey embryos spark ethical debate BBC News

Covid rates are still up to FIVE TIMES the UK average in these 12 Northamptonshire neighbourhoods

Covid rates are still up to FIVE TIMES the UK average in these 12 Northamptonshire neighbourhoods These 12 Northamptonshire neighbourhoods have Covid-19 infection rates up to FIVE TIMES the national average, according to latest official figures.

Numbers of positive tests tumbled county-wide during the lockdown — down by 31 per cent in the week up to April 4.

Yet several stubborn hotspots remain in Northampton, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough — and also in villages which were part of the old Daventry district council area, now West Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• 'Stay Covid safe' message from Northamptonshire's health chiefs ahead of Prince Philip's funeral Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• NGH OH team wins plaudits for staff wellbeing work during Covid Personnel Today

New private hospital earmarked for Kettering site

New private hospital earmarked for Kettering site A business park on the edge of Kettering could soon be home to a new day-case private hospital.

Huge plans have been unveiled by applicants WW Medical Facilities Ltd for the site at North Kettering Business Park, near the hamburger roundabout, in a move which could create 110 highly-skilled jobs. Northamptonshire Telegraph

How has the NHS People Plan 2020/21 influenced the future of the NHS as an employer?

How has the NHS People Plan 2020/21 influenced the future of the NHS as an employer? In 2020, we published an analysis of the economic influence of the NHS as an employer at the local level that found that in many areas of England, the NHS provider sector was not only the biggest employer, but offered higher wages and more opportunities for professional development than most other local employers. When we published the report, the NHS People Plan 2020/21 was on the horizon. Now almost a year after the Plan was published, what has it revealed about how NHS England wants to guide employment practices in the NHS in the future, and how well does that match the changes in the economy so far as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic? The King's Fund

Joint letter on the health and social care workforce

Joint letter on the health and social care workforce The Nuffield Trust, Health Foundation and King’s Fund have come together to suggest a clause to be added to the NHS Bill putting in place independent projections of how many health and social care staff will be in place in the future, and how many will be needed. 

Unequal impact? coronavirus, disability and access to services: Government response to the Committee’s fourth report

Unequal impact? coronavirus, disability and access to services: Government response to the Committee’s fourth report The Committee published the original report in December 2020 and this is the Government response report. It replies to the recommendations on food accessibility, the Public Sector Equality Duty, the impacts on health and social care and education among others. It also outlines plans for the National Strategy for Disabled Strategy, to be published in spring 2021. House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, antibody and vaccination data for the UK: 14 April 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, antibody and vaccination data for the UK: 14 April 2021 Antibody and vaccination data by UK country and regions in England from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey. This survey is being delivered in partnership with University of Oxford, University of Manchester, Public Health England and Wellcome Trust. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Covid-19: More than half of the UK has antibodies but scientists warn earlier immunity is fading The Daily Mail

Consultation launched on staff COVID-19 vaccines in care homes with older adult residents

Consultation launched on staff COVID-19 vaccines in care homes with older adult residents Staff in care homes with older adult residents in England may be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to protect residents from the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Open consultation: Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate in England Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Public Health England

Covid: 82% of positive rapid tests 'were correct'

Covid: 82% of positive rapid tests 'were correct' Most positive rapid coronavirus tests taken since 8 March appear to have returned a correct result, according to data seen by the BBC.

Analysis of data from Public Health England shows 82% sent off for a confirmatory PCR test returned the same positive result. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: 'Encouraging' antibody boost after Pfizer and AZ vaccines BBC News
• Covid jab could be required for England care home staff BBC News
• AstraZeneca vaccine: Denmark ceases rollout completely BBC News
• India Covid-19 second wave: ‘A coronavirus tsunami we had never seen before’ BBC News
• Is South Africa's variant taking off in Britain? Cases of the mutant strain have rocketed by 20% The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Pfizer's vaccine cut emergency hospital admissions by 75% in elderly people, NHS study The Daily Mail
• Mixing Covid vaccines 'may give better long-term protection' The Daily Telegraph
• Hope, humour and zero-hours contracts: what four months as a vaccinator has taught me The Guardian
• Covid-status certificate scheme could be unlawful discrimination, says EHRC The Guardian
• WHO expert warns pandemic ‘nowhere near finished’ as Covid surges across world The Independent
• More than 80 long Covid clinics to be opened by NHS in England with extra £24m funding The Independent
• Bristol Nightingale which never saw Covid patients cost NHS £26million ITV News

Nearly 400,000 NHS patients in England waiting more than a year for treatment

Nearly 400,000 NHS patients in England waiting more than a year for treatment Nearly 400,000 NHS patients in England have now been waiting more than a year for routine treatment, according to the latest NHS performance data.

According to NHS England a total of 387,885 patients had been waiting over a year for planned surgery and other routine treatments – this has increased from just 1,613 a year ago and is the highest number for any month since December 2007. The Independent

See also: 

• 4.7 million waiting for operations in England BBC News

Psilocybin: Magic mushroom compound 'promising' for depression

Psilocybin: Magic mushroom compound 'promising' for depression Psychedelic drug psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, is as good at reducing symptoms of depression as conventional treatment, a small, early-stage study has suggested.

But when it comes to actively improving people's well-being and ability to feel pleasure, the psychedelic drug may have had a more powerful effect. BBC News

See also:

• Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine

Easing of lockdown measures may have to be ‘reversed’ if variants spread rapidly, says scientist

Easing of lockdown measures may have to be ‘reversed’ if variants spread rapidly, says scientist Lockdown measures may need to be reintroduced if there is a rapid spread of Covid variants, a scientist advising the Government has said.

Surge testing is currently taking place in parts of London after a rise in people contracting the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Over 150,000 people in the UK have died from coronavirus - according to ONS figures Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Crisis, communities, change: demands for an equitable recovery

Crisis, communities, change: demands for an equitable recovery Over the winter of 2020-2021, we undertook a community inquiry to listen to stories of resilience, challenge and imagination arising from the pandemic.

As part of our community inquiry, this short briefing is an attempt to understand in greater detail how those of ethnic minority backgrounds have been impacted. 

Amongst the findings was that discrimination in local services was twice as high among ethnic minorities: 52 per cent of Asian and 50 per cent of Black respondents have faced discrimination when accessing local services – compared to 19 per cent of the white population. The data suggests that institutional distrust because of discrimination may play a role in vaccine hesitancy. Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

Integrated care systems explained: making sense of the new NHS structure

Integrated care systems explained: making sense of the new NHS structure Delivering more joined-up care for patients has been a key ambition for the NHS over the past few years. This glossary was developed following NHS Providers' recent virtual workshops, where governors expressed a desire to learn more about the acronyms and terminology that are now commonly used to describe how the NHS structure is evolving. NHS Providers

UK moves into next phase of vaccine roll-out as government target hit early

UK moves into next phase of vaccine roll-out as government target hit early Everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 has been offered a vaccine, with people aged 45 to 49 now invited to book their appointments. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• UK health ministers’ statement on JCVI advice (13 April 2021) Department of Health and Social Care
• Moderna jabs mark new milestone in NHS vaccination programme NHS England
• Guidance: National protocol for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) Public Health England

'Mix and match' UK Covid vaccine trial expanded

'Mix and match' UK Covid vaccine trial expanded A major UK trial looking at whether Covid vaccines can be mixed with different types of jabs used for first and second doses is being expanded.

Combining vaccines might give broader, longer-lasting immunity against the virus and new variants of it, and offer more flexibility to vaccine rollout.

Adults over 50 who have had a first dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca can apply to take part in the Com-Cov study. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: South Africa variant surge probaby due to person travelling from Africa BBC News
• Covid-19: US agencies call for pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccine BBC News
• Weekly Covid deaths in England and Wales fall to lowest levels in six months The Daily Mail
• Anti-lockdown Sweden had highest rate of Covid-19 infections in Europe per capita last week The Daily Mail
• Moderna's vaccine is 90% effective at protecting against infection six months after the final dose The Daily Mail
• Mass Covid testing plans in disarray as pharmacies forced to ration supplies The Daily Telegraph
• As the UK inches towards normality, those with long Covid must not be forgotten | Frances Ryan The Guardian
• Covid vaccine side-effects: what are they, who gets them and why? The Guardian
• UK strategy of backing several Covid vaccines seems to be paying off The Guardian
• Boris Johnson: easing lockdown will increase Covid infections The Guardian
• NHS Covid app update blocked for breaking Apple and Google privacy rules on location data iNews
• Rate of people with Covid antibodies ‘levels off’ across most of UK The Independent
• Lockdown easing may need to be reversed if variant spreads rapidly, says government adviser The Independent

NHS considers standardised national nursing uniform

NHS considers standardised national nursing uniform The NHS is currently considering implementing standardised uniforms for nursing staff and other healthcare workers.

Staff working in clinical roles across the health service in England are now being asked to take part in a seven week consultation on the proposals. NursingNotes

‘I felt humiliated’: parents respond to NHS maternity care racial bias inquiry

‘I felt humiliated’: parents respond to NHS maternity care racial bias inquiry Feeling manipulated into having medical procedures, dismissed by professionals and labelled with racial stereotypes are among the complaints of parents who responded to a national inquiry into racial injustice in UK maternity care.

A panel established by the charity Birthrights is investigating discrimination ranging from explicit racism to racial bias and microaggressions that amount to poorer care. The Guardian

Two directors to step down at Suffolk hospital hit by ‘witch-hunt’ claims

Two directors to step down at Suffolk hospital hit by ‘witch-hunt’ claims Two directors at Matt Hancock’s local hospital are to step down, it has been announced ahead of the publication of a delayed review into a “witch-hunt” for a whistleblower involving an unprecedented demand for fingerprints from senior clinicians.

In January 2020 a “rapid review” was ordered into claims of managing bullying at West Suffolk hospital trust which the health secretary had to recuse himself from because of his friendship with the trust’s chief executive, Steve Dunn. The Guardian

Boris Johnson accused of creating ‘loophole’ in proposed conversion therapy ban

Boris Johnson accused of creating ‘loophole’ in proposed conversion therapy ban Boris Johnson has been accused of creating a “loophole” in the government’s proposed ban on conversion therapy after he suggested it will not cover prayer in religious settings for the “exploration” of a person’s sexual identity.  The Independent

Northamptonshire among first Covid-19 hubs to roll out Moderna vaccine TODAY

Northamptonshire among first Covid-19 hubs to roll out Moderna vaccine TODAY Northamptonshire’s Covid-19 Vaccination Centre has today (Tuesday) become one of the first sites in England to give Moderna vaccine jabs.

The county’s vaccination programme was picked out as a location to use the new vaccine, which was approved for use in the UK in January. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid lockdown eases: Corby reopening 'couldn't have gone better' BBC Northampton
• Over-45s can now book Covid vaccine appointments online as government meets latest target Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Scale of domestic abuse injuries among women admitted at Northamptonshire hospitals revealed by NHS figures

Scale of domestic abuse injuries among women admitted at Northamptonshire hospitals revealed by NHS figures Between eight and 56 women have been put in a Northamptonshire hospital after being abused by their spouse or partner over the last five years, new figures reveal. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Longer waits, missing patients and catching up: How is elective care in England coping with the continuing impact of COVID-19?

Longer waits, missing patients and catching up: How is elective care in England coping with the continuing impact of COVID-19? This analysis looks at what we know about the impact of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on elective care in England.

While the NHS delivered a remarkable amount of elective treatment during the second wave of the pandemic, the pressure of caring for large numbers of patients seriously unwell with COVID-19 has led to longer delays for the growing number of patients on the waiting list.

Data on clinical pathways show that four million fewer people completed elective treatment in 2020 compared with 2019 (down from 16 million to 12 million). The Health Foundation

See also:

• Covid: 4.6m people missed out on hospital treatment in England in 2020 The Guardian

The ethnicity pay gap in the English NHS

The ethnicity pay gap in the English NHS The NHS is the largest employer of ethnic minority staff in England with over 225,000 employees. Issues around equality are important, but how is this reflected in staff pay? This research report examines the differences in basic pay between ethnic minority staff and White staff employed by the NHS - by occupation, pay system and band. Nuffield Trust 

NHS Covid-19 app : early adopter evaluation report

NHS Covid-19 app : early adopter evaluation report An NHS Covid-19 app was developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The NHS Covid-19 app has been trialled in the London Borough of Newham, the Isle of Wight (IoW) and among NHS Volunteer Responders. This trial period is referred to as the early adopter phase. The NHS Covid-19 app programme commissioned a formal evaluation report to ascertain perceptions of the NHS Covid-19 app and (intended) usage of its features during the early adopter phase. Department of Health and Social Care 

Moderna jabs mark new milestone in NHS vaccination programme

Moderna jabs mark new milestone in NHS vaccination programme The first Moderna jabs will be delivered in England today (Tuesday) as the NHS vaccination programme reaches another milestone.

More than 20 sites, including Reading’s Madejski Stadium and the Sheffield Arena, will initially use the newest vaccine, as the NHS continues to expand the vaccination programme.

For those aged 18-29 who are eligible for a jab, the Moderna vaccine provides another alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, in line with updated MHRA guidance last week. NHS England 

Covid: Over-45s invited to book vaccine

Covid: Over-45s invited to book vaccine People aged 45 or over in England can now get a Covid jab, as the vaccination programme enters the next phase.

Appointments can be booked on the NHS England website, which temporarily crashed on Tuesday morning when it opened up to the new age group.

It comes after all over-50s and those in high-risk groups in the UK were offered a first dose of the vaccine. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: England gets third jab as Moderna rollout begins BBC News
• AstraZeneca: Irish health body recommends vaccine restriction BBC News
• Covid vaccine: All over-50s and high risk groups offered first dose BBC News
• Covid: Surge testing in Wandsworth and Lambeth after South African variant cluster found BBC News
• Covid: Asthma drug 'speeds up recovery at home' BBC News
• Covid England: Some areas have still only vaccinated HALF of over-50s
• Risk of two fully vaccinated people catching Covid from meeting up indoors is 'tiny' The Daily Mail
• April 12 lockdown rules: what you now can and can't do The Daily Telegraph

NHS staff are suffering from ‘moral injury’, a distress usually associated with war zones | Mariam Alexander

NHS staff are suffering from ‘moral injury’, a distress usually associated with war zones | Mariam Alexander Adequate support now could head off a post-pandemic exodus of health workers who feel broken by their experiences. The Guardian 

Return to crowded A&Es and long ambulance delays will put patients at risk, warn experts

Return to crowded A&Es and long ambulance delays will put patients at risk, warn experts Hospital emergency departments are facing a return to dangerous overcrowding within weeks, with queues of ambulances waiting hours to hand over patients, accident and emergency doctors have warned.

A “system failure” of the wider NHS system to support patients means more people are being forced to turn to A&E, said Dr Adrian Boyle, vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. The Independent 

Hospitals using out-of-date sepsis triage tools put A&E patients at risk

Hospitals using out-of-date sepsis triage tools put A&E patients at risk Some hospitals are using an out of date triaging tool for emergency patients suffering from sepsis that could leave them at risk of harm.

A warning has been issued to NHS trusts to make sure their triage tools are up to date with the latest advice after several reported incidents in accident and emergency departments. The Independent

Covid-19: Mass testing of 3,000 residents in Corby

Covid-19: Mass testing of 3,000 residents in Corby The town with the highest Covid-19 rate in England is to carry out door-to-door testing on 3,000 residents ahead of the easing of restrictions on Monday.

Trained volunteers will be going out in the Beanfield area of Corby in Northamptonshire from Saturday. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Covid-19: Northampton people on the easing of restrictions BBC Northampton
• Volunteers blitz 3,300 Northamptonshire households estate offering Covid tests ahead of lockdown lifting Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Another milestone as number of coronavirus vaccinations passes 400,000 in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Health bosses: Positivity surrounding coronavirus in Northamptonshire but residents must stick to the rules Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Doorstep Covid tests for NINE THOUSAND people on Corby's Beanfield estate this weekend Northamptonshire Telegraph
• 'Proceed with caution': Northamptonshire residents urged not to get complacent as country takes next step out of lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph

Birthing partners allowed back to pregnancy scans at Northampton General Hospital after more than a year

Birthing partners allowed back to pregnancy scans at Northampton General Hospital after more than a year After more than a year of birthing partners not being allowed to attend pregnancy scans at Northampton General Hospital, the restriction is finally being lifted. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Gender divide: a post-COVID recovery must address pandemic inequalities

Gender divide: a post-COVID recovery must address pandemic inequalities The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all. However, it’s clear women across the UK have faced particular challenges over the past year. From key workers, the majority of whom are female, to mothers supporting their children with home learning – often combined with working from home – women have shown incredible resilience, but at what risk to their long-term health? The Health Foundation

Visas extended for thousands of frontline health and care workers

Visas extended for thousands of frontline health and care workers Thousands of crucial frontline health workers and their dependents will be granted free visa extensions, Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced.

Free one-year visa extensions will be automatically granted to eligible overseas health and care workers whose visas were due to expire before 1 October 2021. Home Office

Coronavirus: UK sets new record for Covid jab second doses

Coronavirus: UK sets new record for Covid jab second doses More than 400,000 second doses of Covid vaccines have been given in the UK for the fourth consecutive day, according to the latest government data.

A record total of 475,230 second doses were administered on Saturday - along with 111,109 first doses.

On Friday, 450,136 second doses and 106,878 first doses were received. BBC News

See also:

• England Covid lockdown eases: PM warns people to 'behave responsibly' BBC News
• Covid-19: Debunking the latest wave of medical misinformation BBC News
• Coronavirus infections 'a sixth of January peak' BBC News
• NHS Covid-19 app update blocked for breaking Apple and Google's rules BBC News
• How Chile's new Covid spike proves England's cautious roadmap is the right route out of this crisis The Daily Mail
• Why washing your weekly shopping probably does nothing to protect you from Covid  The Daily Mail
• On Covid vaccine safety, how do we close the gap between risk perception and reality? The Guardian
• Virus hotspots could lead to third Covid wave in UK, scientists warn The Guardian
• Long Covid: many will need specialist therapies, says expert The Guardian
• UK reports lowest daily Covid death toll in nearly seven months The Guardian
• Possible Johnson & Johnson vaccine blood clots ‘extraordinarily rare events’, government adviser says The Independent
• Blood clots linked to AstraZeneca vaccine stem from rare antibody reaction The Independent
• Racial discrimination ‘may be driving vaccine hesitancy’, new study suggests The Independent

Contraception blood-clot risk: ‘public need better access to advice’

Contraception blood-clot risk: ‘public need better access to advice’ Women need more information about contraceptive options, experts said, after concerns over rare blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca Covid jab prompted a debate over side-effects caused by certain forms of the pill. The Guardian

Pandemic drinking puts more than 100 people in hospital

Pandemic drinking puts more than 100 people in hospital Official Government data shows the NHS dealt with more than three-quarters of a million alcohol-related admissions between April and December last year. The Daily Mail

Cameron took Greensill for private drink with Hancock to discuss NHS payment scheme

Cameron took Greensill for private drink with Hancock to discuss NHS payment scheme David Cameron took financier Lex Greensill for a private drink with Health Secretary Matt Hancock to discuss an app later offered within the NHS, Sky News has confirmed.

See also:

• David Cameron, Lex Greensill and Matt Hancock discussed NHS payment scheme over 'private drink' ITV News

Covid-19: Corby shoppers 'vital' to town centre in virus hotspot

Covid-19: Corby shoppers 'vital' to town centre in virus hotspot People living in the area with England's highest Covid-19 rate have been urged to support the "fragile" high street as more businesses reopen.

The latest figures show Corby in Northamptonshire, had 142.6 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 3 April - treble the England-wide average but down 34% from the previous week. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Why are some towns struggling to shake off Covid-19? BBC News
• Fifteen alleged lockdown breachers from towns including Corby, Northampton and Irthlingborough to appear in court Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chart of the week: Real-terms NHS staff pay from 2010 to 2020

Chart of the week: Real-terms NHS staff pay from 2010 to 2020 Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. Following recent government proposals to offer a 1% pay rise to most NHS staff following a year unlike almost any other for health professionals, Mark Dayan looks at real-terms pay for different NHS staff groups over the past decade. How are different staff groups faring? Nuffield Trust

Country in the grip of a mental health crisis with children worst affected, new analysis finds

Country in the grip of a mental health crisis with children worst affected, new analysis finds Children and young people are bearing the brunt of the mental health crisis caused by the pandemic, new analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found. 

A year on from the first lockdown and after warnings from the mental health sector about the impact of the pandemic on the country’s mental health, NHS Digital data shows that while the crisis is affecting people of all ages, it is under-18s who are suffering most. 

See also:

• Extent of mental health crisis in England at ‘terrifying’ level  The Guardian
• Children bearing brunt of ‘terrifying’ coronavirus mental health crisis The Independent

Levelling Up Health

Levelling Up Health Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on our country, exposing our nation’s poor health and our health inequalities - 90% of those who died with Covid had significant prior poor health. A new healthcare system is essential to confront how unhealthy we are.  The report sets out why this is needed and what should be done. It proposes a 10 Year Health Improvement Plan, and new Health Improvement Fund, a shift in political attitudes that have impeded progress, clear priorities for action and the need to challenge and change organisations that harm our children and our health.

All of society and all parties must seize the moment to improve our health, we show how. All-Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity

See also: 

• Welcome recognition that a healthy population is one of our nation’s most important assets The Health Foundation
• ‘Levelling up’ – from slogan to strategy The King's Fund

Government approach to negative body image ‘dangerous’

Government approach to negative body image ‘dangerous’ As the country prepares for the reopening of gyms and beauty salons, a new report into body image has branded the Government's approach to eating disorders and tackling poor body image, and a key health indicator, potentially harmful.

The use of the Body Mass Index (BMI) in determining if an individual's weight is healthy should be scrapped immediately, according to a new report on body image published by the Women and Equalities Committee.

The report also found that lockdown had a 'devastating' impact on those with or at high risk of developing eating disorders and intensified body image anxieties, arguing for improved protection from appearance-based discrimination and more diversity in advertising. Women and Equalities Committee 

See also:

• Eating disorders: 'My BMI wasn't low enough to get help' BBC News
• Scrap use of BMI in decisions on eating disorder support – MPs The Guardian

‘Nightingale effect’ sees thousands of healthcare support workers join the NHS

‘Nightingale effect’ sees thousands of healthcare support workers join the NHS The NHS has boosted support for patients, their families and staff by recruiting 10,000 healthcare support workers (HCSWs) in the first three months of the year.

The new staff will support the workforce and assist nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals to perform health checks, update patient records, help patients wash, dress and move around, and care for women and families in maternity services. They will also support people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and autism.

New NHS data shows of the 10,000 new staff, half are completely new to health and social care – clear evidence of the ‘Nightingale effect’ caused by the coronavirus pandemic. NHS England

New campaign urges public to get tested twice a week

New campaign urges public to get tested twice a week From today (Friday 9 April) everyone in England will be able to access free, regular, rapid COVID-19 testing.

Alongside the roll-out of the vaccine, regular testing is an essential part of the easing of restrictions, helping identify variants and stopping individual cases from becoming outbreaks. Anyone can now access free, rapid lateral flow tests for themselves and their families to use twice a week, in line with clinical guidance. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Understanding lateral flow antigen testing for people without symptoms Department of Health and Social Care
• Findings from the latest COVID-19 REACT-1 study published Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: March 2021 final results Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19 vaccines have prevented 10,400 deaths in older adults Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England