Refugee nurses are being fast-tracked into the NHS

Refugee nurses are being fast-tracked into the NHS Refugee nurses are being fast-tracked into the NHS as part of a pioneering scheme in Liverpool. Those involved explain why the pandemic means it's vital the UK uses their medical experience. BBC News

The NHS can be the envy of the world again – if we give it the funding it needs

The NHS can be the envy of the world again – if we give it the funding it needs The NHS has been the envy of the world and it remains one of the most comprehensive and fair healthcare systems internationally. 

One of its great strengths is the role it plays in tackling inequality – redistributing resources from the healthy to the sick, from the rich to the poor. It does this by allocating its resources in a way that takes account of the needs of different regions of the country, irrespective of their wealth, combined with access to care being based on a patient’s clinical need rather than their ability to pay. The Independent

Nurses receive activist training to mobilise for strike action

Nurses receive activist training to mobilise for strike action Exclusive: Royal College of Nursing says ‘army’ of 25,000 members will take fight to government over ‘pitiful’ 1% pay rise

Up to 25,000 nurses are training to become activists to help Britain’s nursing union force Boris Johnson to improve his “pitiful” 1% NHS pay offer.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) hopes the move will help it achieve a turnout of 50% in the strike ballot it has pledged to call if ministers continue to resist calls for a bigger increase. The Guardian

Fake NHS Covid apps among scams driving huge increase in fraud takedowns

Fake NHS Covid apps among scams driving huge increase in fraud takedowns Fake NHS apps are among the covid-themed cyber crimes that have driven the number of scams taken down by the UK’s security agency up 15-fold.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, said it had removed more scams from the internet last year than in the previous three years combined. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• Fifteen times more online scams stamped out as cyber experts moved to protect UK during pandemic National Cyber Security Centre
• Active Cyber Defence (ACD) - the fourth year National Cyber Security Centre

Another Covid vaccine milestone passed as jabs boss says there's no need for 'mix and match' doses in Northamptonshire

Another Covid vaccine milestone passed as jabs boss says there's no need for 'mix and match' doses in Northamptonshire Vaccine bosses insist there is no need for Northamptonshire patients to be offered 'mix and match' Covid-19 jabs.

Those in charge of the county's rollout insist there is no shortage of supplies and everybody should be given a second dose from the same vaccine as their first. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• What to expect when holidays restart - as government warns of long border delays Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New day care centre specialising in dementia care for older people to open in Northampton following high demand

New day care centre specialising in dementia care for older people to open in Northampton following high demand A second day care centre, which will offer specialised dementia care for older people in Northampton will open later this year, due to high demand for the service. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire care home rated inadequate as CQC finds safety risks

Northamptonshire care home rated inadequate as CQC finds safety risks A care home for people with dementia and disabilities has been rated inadequate by health inspectors who found risks to residents' safety.

Bell Lodge in Daventry in Northamptonshire was put into special measures after a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in January.

There were also issues with staffing, management, medicines, and infection control at the 15-resident home. BBC Northampton

LSE–Lancet Commission on the future of the NHS: re-laying the foundations for an equitable and efficient health and care service after COVID-19

LSE–Lancet Commission on the future of the NHS: re-laying the foundations for an equitable and efficient health and care service after COVID-19 This UK-wide London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)–Lancet Commission on the future of the NHS provides the first analysis of the initial phases of the COVID-19 response as part of a uniquely comprehensive assessment of the fundamental strengths of and challenges that are faced by the NHS.

See also:

• UK needs £102bn boost to NHS and social care, says major report The Guardian
• Reforming the NHS: key proposals by LSE-Lancet commission The Guardian
• Raise income tax by 1p to secure future of NHS, experts tell government The Independent

10 practical lessons for implementing digital innovations - learning from the Care City test bed

10 practical lessons for implementing digital innovations - learning from the Care City test bed Digital health innovations are often seen as 'ready made' solutions to challenges facing health and care systems but despite their potential, implementing these technologies can be complex. This summary highlights ten lessons for those working to integrate technology into health and social care services. The findings are based on a large-scale evaluation of digital technologies being implemented in health and social care in East London. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Implementing technology in health and social care: lessons from the Care City test bed Nuffield Trust

Working on organisational culture in Covid-19

Working on organisational culture in Covid-19 A while ago I was asked to work with an NHS trust on improving their culture. I was intrigued to see if there would be enough understanding and support to sponsor a sustained focus on culture change and what internal capability could be mobilised to support it. I felt excited by the prospect of playing a part, but I felt apprehensive too, if I’m honest. Did staff want to change and would the particular mix of politics permit it? The King's Fund

New analysis shows ‘widespread decline’ in adult social care

New analysis shows ‘widespread decline’ in adult social care New figures reveal the dire state of England's social care sector before the pandemic, with more people requesting support but fewer getting the help they needed. The data puts further pressure on the government to commit to reform of social care in next week’s Queen’s Speech.

The new data is part of Social care 360, The King’s Fund’s annual assessment of the state of the social care sector. The overall picture is of deep decline, with many key indicators continuing to move in the wrong direction. The King's Fund 

Why do people abandon assistive technologies? Research suggests users need to be partners in design

Why do people abandon assistive technologies? Research suggests users need to be partners in design Many people with long term - chronic - conditions need a lot of support in their daily lives. A wide range of assistive technologies are designed to help, including wheelchairs, hearing aids, and electronic devices. But people often give up using them. This briefing summarises the findings of research that explored the main barriers that people experienced when using assistive technologies. National Institute for Health Research

The state of the world's midwifery 2021

The state of the world's midwifery 2021 This report presents findings on the Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (SRMNAH) workforce from 194 countries and identifies the barriers and challenges to future advancement. It finds that there is a a global shortage of 1.1 million SRMNAH workers, the largest shortage (900,000) being midwives. United Nations Population Fund 

Coronavirus and vaccination rates in people aged 50 years and over by socio-demographic characteristic, England

Coronavirus and vaccination rates in people aged 50 years and over by socio-demographic characteristic, England First dose COVID-19 vaccination rates among people aged 50 years and older who live in England, both in private households and communal establishments. Includes estimates for the population as a whole by age and sex, and for ethnic minorities, religious groups, those identified as disabled and by area deprivation. Office for National Statistics

See also: 

• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England

Covid: Concern increases over India variant in UK

Covid: Concern increases over India variant in UK Public health experts have recommended one version of the Indian coronavirus variant be made a "variant of concern" in the UK, the BBC has been told.

Public Health England (PHE) is tracking B.1.617.2 which appears to spread more quickly than two other identified subtypes of the Indian variant.

Scientists also believe it is at least as transmissible than the variant detected in Kent last year. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Complaints after England booking site reveals vaccine status BBC News
• Covid and pregnancy - should you get the vaccine? BBC News
• Just two thirds of Black Caribbean Brits have had a Covid vaccine, official data shows The Daily Mail
• Covid India: CDC classifies 'double mutant' strain as 'variant of interest' The Daily Mail
• Covid has killed 7M people around the world - more than double official tally - study claims The Daily Mail
• Covid: Moderna vaccine 96% effective in teenagers ages 12-17 in early trials The Daily Mail
• Under-40s to be offered alternative to AstraZeneca vaccine over increased blood clot risk The Independent
• Infection rules for NHS staff leave them at risk from airborne Covid, warn experts The Independent

Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales rose to highest EVER level in 2020 amid lockdowns

Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales rose to highest EVER level in 2020 amid lockdowns Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales hit a record high in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, official figures show – and the greatest increase was among middle-class women.

An Office for National Statistics report published today revealed there were 7,423 fatalities linked to drinking last year, which was a fifth more than in 2019 and the highest number since records began in 2001. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Quarterly alcohol-specific deaths in England and Wales: 2001 to 2019 registrations and Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) to Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2020 provisional registrations Office for National Statistics
• Alcohol deaths highest for 20 years in England and Wales BBC News
• Alcohol-related deaths jumped to highest level during Covid pandemic The Independent

Areas of Northampton, Wellingborough, Corby, Kettering, Daventry and Towcester in Covid-19 spotlight

Areas of Northampton, Wellingborough, Corby, Kettering, Daventry and Towcester in Covid-19 spotlight  These are the areas of Northamptonshire currently in the Covid-19 spotlight.

Eight neighbourhoods in Northampton and Wellingborough, four parts of Corby and Kettering, plus areas of Towcester and Daventry have all seen increases in the number of new coronavirus cases while figures are going down across the rest of the country. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• KGH's Anna wins national award for pandemic work Northamptonshire Telegraph
• All the UK lockdown changes from 17 May - including meeting indoors and overnight stays  Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Scientist warns ‘Covid nails’ could be sign of previous infection - the symptoms to look for Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mum brutally attacked in Northampton General Hospital children's ward while baby son was being treated

Mum brutally attacked in Northampton General Hospital children's ward while baby son was being treated A man beat the mother of his children during a brutal attack in a hospital ward where their baby son was being treated.

Northampton Crown Court heard John McNamara, 37, repeatedly punched and kicked the woman, stamping on her face and trying to choke her. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Was building the NHS Nightingale hospitals worth the money?

Was building the NHS Nightingale hospitals worth the money? Florence Nightingale received seven unexpected tributes in the 200th-anniversary year of her birth. In late March 2020, as concerns grew that Covid-19 would overwhelm the NHS’s critical care capacity, emergency NHS ‘Nightingale’ hospitals sprung up from Exeter to Sunderland with the aim of supporting the NHS to cope with surging number of people with Covid-19. The King's Fund

Racism and discrimination: the experience of primary care professionals in the Humberside region

Racism and discrimination: the experience of primary care professionals in the Humberside region This report highlights discrimination faced by staff and patients from ethnic minority backgrounds in general practice. It finds that respondents reported experiences of discrimination in a wide range of areas such as training, working patterns and complaints and it calls for a zero tolerance approach to tackle racism in all its forms. Humberside LMCs

Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: January to March 2021

Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: January to March 2021 Analysis of the proportion of the British adult population experiencing some form of depression in early 2021, by age, sex and other characteristics. Includes comparisons with 2020 and pre-pandemic estimates.

Around 1 in 5 (21%) adults experienced some form of depression in early 2021 (27 January to 7 March); this is an increase since November 2020 (19%) and more than double that observed before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (10%). Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Covid: Depression rises in young and women during second peak BBC News
• One in five adults experienced some form of depression in early 2021 The Daily Mail
• One in five UK adults have had depressive symptoms during pandemic The Guardian

Covid: Black leaders blame lower vaccine take-up on racism

Covid: Black leaders blame lower vaccine take-up on racism Barely a month into England's coronavirus vaccine programme, a stark inequality began to reveal itself. Black people were less likely than any other group, and half as likely as white people, to have had the jab.

By April, 64% of black over-50s had been vaccinated compared with 93% of white people of the same age.

The reasons for this are complex. Unethical medical treatment in the past, ongoing discrimination and personal experiences of insensitive treatment by the NHS are all believed to play a part.

But doctors, researchers and campaigners who spoke to the BBC said they feared black communities were being blamed. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Canada authorises Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 BBC News
• Coronavirus: More real-world data proves Pfizer Covid jab is 77-98% effective The Daily Mail
• Moderna's 'tweaked' Covid vaccine effective against Brazil and South Africa variants The Daily Telegraph
• Ministers urged to reveal details of £2bn Covid deals with private health firms The Guardian
• The stress of the Covid pandemic is driving NHS doctors like me out of frontline care The Guardian

Mental health: 'We need to care for patients, but also ourselves'

Mental health: 'We need to care for patients, but also ourselves' It is estimated that a doctor dies every three to four weeks in the UK from suicide.

Dr Dan Gearon's cousin Liz took her own life in 2016. She had been an anaesthetist at King's College London.

Following Liz's death, Dan created the charity, You Okay, Doc? to provide doctors with a safe space to talk about their mental health.

Now as the pandemic starts to ease, Dan and many other doctors across the country are voicing the need to have better mental health services for medics. BBC News

Teens, tech and mental health: Oxford study finds no link

Teens, tech and mental health: Oxford study finds no link There remains "little association" between technology use and mental-health problems, a study of more than 430,000 10 to 15-year-olds suggests.

The Oxford Internet Institute compared TV viewing, social-media and device use with feelings of depression, suicidal tendencies and behavioural problems.

It found a small drop in association between depression and social-media use and TV viewing, from 1991 to 2019, BBC News

See also:

• There Is No Evidence That Associations Between Adolescents’ Digital Technology Engagement and Mental Health Problems Have Increased (open access) Clinical Psychology Science

Alzheimer’s patients and hospital staff prescribed music in NHS trial

Alzheimer’s patients and hospital staff prescribed music in NHS trial Exclusive: playlist based on listeners’ backgrounds and tastes found to lower heart rate, agitation and distress

Bob Marley knew it when he sang on Trenchtown Rock: “One good thing about music when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

Now trials are under way at an NHS trust to see if an algorithm can curate music playlists to reduce suffering in Alzheimer’s patients as well as in stressed medical staff. The Guardian

Air pollution may impair memory and verbal fluency in older men, study suggests

 Air pollution may impair memory and verbal fluency in older men, study suggests Exposure to spikes in air pollution, even for just a few weeks, can impair older men’s ability to think and speak as clearly, new research suggests.

Studying nearly 1,000 white males from Greater Boston with an average age of 69, Columbia University-led scientists found that the men’s cognitive abilities fell following spikes in air pollution in the 28 days before testing. The Independent

See also:

• Short-term air pollution, cognitive performance and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (abstract) Nature Aging

Concerns over public shunning rapid Covid-19 tests as cases tumble in Northamptonshire

Concerns over public shunning rapid Covid-19 tests as cases tumble in Northamptonshire Health chiefs are puzzled by recent falls in numbers of rapid Covid-19 tests being taken in Northamptonshire.

The county's Public Health team has launched an online survey in a bid to understand why people are shunning lateral flow device testing. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• The new guidance for care home residents going out in England - and visiting rules explained Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• When Boris Johnson is expected to announce the next lockdown update - including rules for foreign travel Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• KGH hosted Government 'Covid passports' trial Northamptonshire Telegraph
• More £10,000 Covid-19 fines taken off Northamptonshire's tally as MPs label system "muddled and unfair" Northamptonshire Telegraph
• How you can sign up for Covid vaccine trial in Corby Northamptonshire Telegraph

Visiting restrictions at Northampton General Hospital to partially lift

Visiting restrictions at Northampton General Hospital to partially lift Visiting restrictions at Northampton General Hospital will be partially lifted this week after more than a year of strict rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The Cliftonville hospital will allow pre-booked visits from Wednesday (May 5) as lockdown eases. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Kettering General Hospital patient visits to restart Northamptonshire Telegraph

Sir Simon Stevens steps down – the end of an era?

Sir Simon Stevens steps down – the end of an era? Sir Simon Stevens’ departure as Chief Executive of the NHS in England marks the end of an era. Pity his successor. The ‘to-do list’, or perhaps more accurately the ‘still-to-do list’ is enormous.

Sir Simon has been, by any measure, by far the most effective and powerful chief executive of the NHS, of whom there have been – in one form or another – eight, since 1985. If the test for ‘Who have been the greatest health ministers?’ is that they found the NHS as one thing and left it as another, Stevens, as a chief executive rather than a minister, passes that test easily. The King's Fund

Management of chronic asthma in children aged 16 years and under

Management of chronic asthma in children aged 16 years and under Asthma is the most common lung disease in the UK. 1.1 million children are diagnosed with the condition.

Our investigation looked at the risks involved in the management of children aged 16 years and under diagnosed with asthma. Diagnosis and the management of asthma, particularly in children and young people, can be complex. It is important to get it right, as otherwise significant harm or death can result. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

Stillbirths and other adverse outcomes for babies in Britain during the pandemic

Stillbirths and other adverse outcomes for babies in Britain during the pandemic Covid-19’s impact on all health services has caused concern about its effect on those whose health need is nothing to do with the virus – worries that have extended to maternity care. In this blog, Liz Fisher assesses the evidence around stillbirths and other adverse outcomes for babies in Britain over the past year. Nuffield Trust

Pandemic patient experience II: from lockdown to vaccine roll-out

Pandemic patient experience II: from lockdown to vaccine roll-out In 2020, patients told the Patients Association about their experiences of living with health and care needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their testimony painted a bleak picture in many ways. This follow-up survey report (drawing on 453 responses, submitted over February, March and early April 2021) finds that many aspects of their experiences are not much better, and some are worse. General practice services remains difficult for many, and patients overall do not regard remote consultations as an adequate replacement for in-person appointments. Patients Association

Change the law now to ensure end to blanket bans on care home visits, urges Joint Committee

Change the law now to ensure end to blanket bans on care home visits, urges Joint Committee The Joint Committee on Human Rights has prepared a draft statutory instrument to lay before Parliament to secure legal protection for care home residents deprived of family visits, and therefore, their human rights.

In today’s report, Care homes: Visiting restrictions during the covid-19 pandemic, the Committee calls on the Government to make the existing requirements for individualised assessment for visits mandatory by laying its draft Regulations, as soon as possible. 

See also:

• Covid: MPs want law to protect care home visiting rights BBC News

New cutting-edge testing centre to fast-track COVID-19 variant vaccines

New cutting-edge testing centre to fast-track COVID-19 variant vaccines Vaccines tailored to tackle COVID-19 variants are to be accelerated through new state-of-the-art labs, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced today (Wednesday 5 May).

The government will invest £29.3 million through the Vaccines Taskforce in Public Health England’s new testing facilities at Porton Down, to assess the effectiveness of existing and new vaccines against variants of concern. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Government to launch 40,000 person daily contact testing study Department of Health and Social Care
• UK sends further life-saving support to India Department of Health and Social Care

Another Covid lockdown unlikely, says scientist

Another Covid lockdown unlikely, says scientist It is unlikely that there will be more lockdowns in the UK, the scientist whose modelling led to the first nationwide restrictions has said.

Prof Neil Ferguson told the BBC the UK is "likely to be on a steady course now out of this pandemic".

However, he said there could be a "roll back" of some freedoms if any new variants proved resistant to vaccines. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-variant vaccines fast-tracked with more investment BBC News
• Pfizer is working on a new version of its Covid vaccine that could be stored in a refrigerator The Daily Mail
• Downing Street hints NHS app may not be ready for travel restart The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Life in UK will 'feel a lot more normal by the summer', says SAGE adviser Neil Ferguson The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson wrongly cleared over Covid contracts, say MPs The Guardian

‘No one judges you out here’: fishing prescribed for NHS patients

‘No one judges you out here’: fishing prescribed for NHS patients They talk with almost mythic reverence about the 24lb common carp. It is the prize fish in this quiet Manchester fishing pond, where the catch below the surface is a much-needed distraction from the troubles on land.

Last week a group of NHS patients has become some of the first in the country to be recommended fishing to improve their mental health. Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust has partnered with a local fishing organisation, Tackling Minds, with the aim of helping patients overcome issues such as depression and anxiety. The Guardian

Women bear brunt of ‘gargantuan challenges’ for health and care services during pandemic

Women bear brunt of ‘gargantuan challenges’ for health and care services during pandemic Women are bearing the overwhelming brunt of the “gargantuan challenges” health and care services are grappling with during the Covid pandemic, health leaders have said.

A new study by the NHS Confederation’s Health and Care Women Leaders Network found female health and care workers’s physical and mental health substantially deteriorated due to working during the coronavirus crisis. The Independent

See also: 

• COVID-19 and the female health and care workforce survey update NHS Confederation

Health service staff to help make NHS net zero carbon pledge a reality

Health service staff to help make NHS net zero carbon pledge a reality More than one million NHS staff will be asked to make a personal commitment to help the health service achieve its goal of being net zero on carbon emissions by 2045. The Independent 

Apetamin: NHS urges Instagram to clamp down on 'dangerous' weight-gain drug

Apetamin: NHS urges Instagram to clamp down on 'dangerous' weight-gain drug NHS England has urged Instagram to stop users selling a "dangerous" unlicensed weight-gain drug.

Apetamin is being sold and promoted on Instagram and other sites as a way to achieve an hour-glass figure in the mould of celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

However, senior health leaders say the appetite stimulant could cause "serious harm". Sky News

Supporting LGBTQ+ NHS staff

Supporting LGBTQ+ NHS staff Around 1.6 million people in the UK work for the NHS and many more, including staff in general practice and dentistry and large numbers of outsourced support staff, help to provide NHS services. Taking a ballpark estimate for LGBTQ+ prevalence, let’s say 2–3 per cent, would mean tens of thousands of people who identify as LGBTQ+ work in the NHS – a number that seems likely to increase in the near future, as younger individuals appear more likely to identify with part of the LGBTQ+ community, or at least to be willing to report that to researchers and pollsters. The King's Fund 

3D Heart Scans On The NHS To Speed Up Disease Diagnosis

3D Heart Scans On The NHS To Speed Up Disease Diagnosis The NHS is rolling out revolutionary technology to diagnose and treat around 100,000 patients with suspected heart disease, five times faster than normal.

Known as HeartFlow, the latest innovation delivered as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, turns a regular CT scan of the heart into a 3D image allowing doctors to diagnose life-threating coronary heart disease in just twenty minutes. NHS England

Outpatient appointments intended but not booked after inpatient stays

Outpatient appointments intended but not booked after inpatient stays This investigation report explores the patient safety risk of outpatient appointments which are intended but not booked following an inpatient stay. It also considers opportunities for building resilience into the process to ensure timely appointments. It concludes with two safety recommendations that are aimed at reducing the chance that patients will be lost after an inpatient stay and supporting the staff within trusts who are responsible for arranging appointments and tracking patients. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch 

50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in UK

50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in UK Over 50 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the UK, with over a quarter of adults having received both doses.

Health services across the UK administered a total of 50,089,549 million vaccines between 8 December 2020 and 2 May 2021, including 34 million people with their first dose and 15 million with their second. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19 infections in UK back to late summer levels - ONS

Covid-19 infections in UK back to late summer levels - ONS Coronavirus infections in the UK are back to levels seen at the end of last summer with around one in 1,000 people infected, ONS data suggests.

In the week to 24 April, infections fell in all four nations of the UK and were 20 times lower than in January.

It comes as a new UK study has found very small numbers of people have been admitted to hospital with Covid several weeks after having one vaccine dose. BBC News

See also: 

• Covax: How will Covid vaccines be shared around the world? BBC News
• Hospital Covid admissions after jab 'very, very small' BBC News
• Covid: Care home isolation rule axed for low-risk trips in England BBC News
• South Asians in UK at greater risk from Covid BBC News
• Covid: Quarantine for Covid contacts could be scrapped BBC News
• India passes 20 million cases amid oxygen shortage BBC News
• India coronavirus: New record deaths as virus engulfs India BBC News
• Trees planted by hospital treating Covid patients BBC News
• Britain hits 50MILLION vaccines landmark The Daily Mail
• Covid modellers ‘optimistic’ third wave may not happen at all The Daily Telegraph
• England to pilot daily Covid tests as way to avoid self-isolation The Guardian
• Holidays abroad should be discouraged to stop Covid third wave, say MPs The Guardian
• Secondary school pupils to be offered Covid-19 vaccinations from September under NHS plans The Independent

Simon Stevens: How heavy hitter changed the NHS

Simon Stevens: How heavy hitter changed the NHS Think like a patient, act like a taxpayer. That was the mantra of the head of NHS England.

There is even a sign, made by one of his children, in his office as a reminder.

Sir Simon Stevens oversees an annual budget of about £130bn - but this does not stop him monitoring the smaller change. BBC News

Thousands of doctors planning to leave the NHS citing pandemic stress and burnout

Thousands of doctors planning to leave the NHS citing pandemic stress and burnout Thousands of doctors are planning to leave the NHS in the coming year, exhausted by the coronavirus pandemic.

A survey by the British Medical Association found that half of doctors plan to work fewer hours, one in four were more likely to take a career break and 21% were considering leaving the NHS for a different career. Sky News

See also: 

• Thousands of overworked doctors plan to leave the NHS, BMA finds, as many struggle to get the respite they need from pandemic and express fears about unmanageable demand BMA
• NHS faces exodus of doctors after Covid pandemic, survey finds The Guardian

Thousands of patients waiting for dementia diagnoses during Covid crisis

Thousands of patients waiting for dementia diagnoses during Covid crisis Experts have warned of backlogs of undiagnosed dementia cases and worsening standards of care after official figures revealed a collapse in assessing and monitoring patients in England during the pandemic.

NHS data shows the number of people who were assessed for dementia has fallen to less than half the level before the pandemic – 10,535 in February 2021 compared to 23,392 in February 2020. The Guardian

Six out of every ten Northamptonshire adults have had a Covid-19 jab

Six out of every ten Northamptonshire adults have had a Covid-19 jab More than six in every ten of Northamptonshire's adult population have had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Latest NHS figures revealed 367,147 were jabbed out of a target of around 580,000 by Sunday (April 25). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Corby's Covid test centre clicks up its 10,000th swab as cases continue to tumble Northamptonshire Telegraph

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Find out more about Healthwatch from governor

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Find out more about Healthwatch from governor One of KGH's governors has explained the importance of Healthwatch, which is designed to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

The coronavirus inquiry: The case for an investigation of government actions during the Covid-19 pandemic

The coronavirus inquiry: The case for an investigation of government actions during the Covid-19  pandemic Boris Johnson should establish his promised public inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus in May.

This report sets out the case for an inquiry. With more than 150,000 deaths recorded from Covid-19, the UK experience of the pandemic demands investigation – and a public inquiry is the right way to do this. Institute for Government

Assessing England’s response to Covid-19: A framework

Assessing England’s response to Covid-19: A framework The Covid-19 pandemic has been a deep shock to the country, whether counted in terms of deaths and ill health, the damage to the economy and livelihoods, or in the deep disruption to daily life. Covid-19 has also had a disproportionate impact on some communities, increasing and emphasising the inequalities that existed before the pandemic arrived. This combination of high number of deaths and deep inequalities will leave a long and difficult legacy. The King's Fund

The unequal mental health toll of the pandemic

The unequal mental health toll of the pandemic The Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry is exploring the pandemic’s implications for health and health inequalities in the UK.

Over the past year, mental health has been in the news continuously – an acknowledgement that the pandemic poses risks beyond our physical health. As someone who has worked in the mental health sector for over 25 years, this increased attention is most welcome. Now is the time to channel this interest and commit to making things better for people who were struggling both before and during the pandemic.

Improve patient care: Pelvic Floor services in 2021 and beyond

Improve patient care: Pelvic Floor services in 2021 and beyond A new report, ‘Seizing the opportunity to improve patient care: Pelvic Floor services in 2021 and beyond’ exposes significant shortcomings in the care of patients with pelvic floor disorders in the UK. It provides national and local recommendations to improve healthcare services and highlights six key areas for change. The Pelvic Floor Society

NHS Chief Sir Simon Stevens to stand down this summer

NHS Chief Sir Simon Stevens to stand down this summer Sir Simon Stevens has today formally notified the NHS England Board of his decision to stand down as planned at the end of July, after more than seven years as NHS chief executive. NHS England

See also: 

• Response to departure of Sir Simon Stevens as NHS England Chief Executive The Health Foundation
• Response to the departure of Sir Simon Stevens as NHS England Chief Executive Nuffield Trust
• NHS England boss Stevens to step down BBC News
• Sir Simon Stevens to quit as NHS England chief executive The Daily Telegraph
• 'Most pro-GP NHS leader ever' Sir Simon Stevens to stand down this summer GPonline
• Simon Stevens to step down as NHS England boss at end of July The Guardian
• The Guardian view on the NHS: the boss is leaving at a dangerous time | Editorial The Guardian
• The leading candidates for the next CEO of NHS England Health Service Journal
• Simon Stevens: NHS England chief executive to step down and become life peer The Independent
• Sir Simon Stevens to be made a peer after he steps down as head of NHS England Sky News

Hancock: transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower

Hancock: transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower The Health and Social Care Secretary lays out the government's commitment to boost the UK life sciences sector and build on lessons from the pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Speech: Transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower Department of Health and Social Care

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England (PHE) 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:

• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid deaths: More than 20m living in areas with zero Covid deaths

Covid deaths: More than 20m living in areas with zero Covid deaths About 22 million people in the UK are living in areas that have not reported any Covid-19 deaths that happened in April, according to BBC News analysis.

By comparison, in a four-week period during January's peak, fewer than 50,000 people lived in such places.

See also:

• Confusion over use of NHS App as Covid passport BBC News
• Covid vaccine offered to 40-year-olds in England BBC News
• Covid-19 UK: More than half of positive rapid tests at schools were false, data reveals The Daily Mail
• Nearly a quarter of British health workers wary of Covid-19 vaccine The Guardian
• Covid bereaved condemn government refusal to publish NHS 111 training content The Guardian
• Ministers among main routes for Covid PPE deal ‘VIP’ channel, court hears The Guardian
• Two new mutant coronavirus variants first identified in India found in England The Independent
• Government ‘wasted’ £38.4m on Test and Trace contract with Dubai-based multinational The Independent

Gene therapy: 'Now I can see my own face again'

Gene therapy: 'Now I can see my own face again' "Last year, for a lot of people was a dark and miserable year, but for me it was probably easily the best year of my life."

Jake Ternent has been gradually losing his central vision since birth, because of a rare inherited genetic eye condition.

And, despite the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year for the 24-year-old, from County Durham, who became the first person in the UK to receive a revolutionary new gene therapy on the NHS. BBC News 

Matt Hancock warns modern medicine may 'cease to exist' without global action to fight the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs

Matt Hancock warns modern medicine may 'cease to exist' without global action to fight the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs Matt Hancock today warned the rise of deadly superbugs poses a bigger threat than Covid and should be taken as seriously as global warming.

The Health Secretary said modern medicine may 'cease to exist' unless the 'silent pandemic' of antimicrobial resistance is urgently tackled. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Speech: The silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance Department of Health and Social Care

No corner of Northamptonshire has been spared with Covid deaths set to reach 1,500

No corner of Northamptonshire has been spared with Covid deaths set to reach 1,500 Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death toll is climbing towards 1,500 — and no corner of the county has been spared its share of grief for lost loved ones.

Two more victims reported this week in the county's acute NHS hospitals added to a grim number since the first fatalities in the county on March 16 last year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

First for the county as KGH surgeon performs new operation

First for the county as KGH surgeon performs new operation A Desborough woman has become the first person in the county to have a new ‘key hole’ operation to remove a disc from a person’s spine.

Tracey Westley, 45, had the minimally invasive discectomy operation at KGH on March 16, performed by consultant orthopaedic spine surgeon Purnajyoti Banerjee. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2018/19 update

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2018/19 update This report updates the Centre for Health Economics’ time-series of NHS productivity growth for the period 2017/18 to 2018/19. NHS productivity growth is measured by comparing the growth in outputs produced by the NHS to the growth in inputs used to produce them. NHS outputs include all the activities undertaken for NHS patients wherever they are treated in England. It also accounts for changes in the quality of care provided to those patients. NHS inputs include the number of doctors, nurses and support staff providing care, the equipment and clinical supplies used, and the facilities of hospitals and other premises where care is provided. 

Advanced therapies toolkit

Advanced therapies toolkit The NHS readiness toolkit provides resources for healthcare organisations that are working towards the delivery of advanced therapies for patients.

The toolkit is intended for senior hospital management, operational managers, clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory teams and others involved in the delivery of advanced therapies. Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre 

Women's Health Strategy: call for evidence

Women's Health Strategy: call for evidence The DHSC is seeking views to help inform the development of the government’s Women’s Health Strategy. This call for evidence will run for a period of twelve weeks and is open to everyone aged 16 and over. The easiest way to participate in the call for evidence as an individual is by completing the public survey. Submissions are also sought from individuals or organisations who have expertise in women’s health, such as researchers and third-sector organisations. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 30 May 2021. Department of Health and Social Care

Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 28 April 2021

Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 28 April 2021 Speech by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• UK sends oxygen factories to support India Department of Health and Social Care
• UK secures extra 60 million Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Inadvertent vaccination in pregnancy (VIP) Public Health England

UK orders 60m more doses of Pfizer Covid vaccine for booster jabs

UK orders 60m more doses of Pfizer Covid vaccine for booster jabs The UK has ordered a further 60m doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine in an effort to ensure that booster jabs can be given from this autumn, the government has announced.

The health secretary, Matt Hancock, made the announcement at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday and said the extra doses would be used alongside other approved vaccines in “protecting the progress that we have made”.  The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: How the UK has been getting jabs to remote territories BBC News
• India Covid: Hospitals overwhelmed as deaths pass 200,000 BBC News
• India Covid-19: Deadly second wave spreads from cities to small towns BBC News
• Get ready for a 'normal' summer: Nearly 70% of adults in England now have coronavirus antibodies The Daily Mail
• Schoolchildren should be taught to spot anti-vaxx misinformation on social media, scientist claims The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: UK confidence in Covid vaccine safety has RISEN despite blood clot scare The Daily Mail
• Booking tickets for festivals in July or August 'carries some risk', in latest hint restrictions won't end on June 21 The Daily Telegraph
• UK drops plans for mandatory Covid passports in pubs and restaurants The Guardian
• ‘Misguided’ home testing programme unlikely to reduce transmission, experts warn The Independent
• NHS sets out GP referral pathways for long COVID GPonline

Free e-cigarettes for smokers in A&E trial

Free e-cigarettes for smokers in A&E trial Smokers attending emergency departments will be given free e-cigarettes and taught how to use them, in a trial designed to help people quit.

Patients will be offered a device, enough e-liquid supplies for a week, and referral to local smoking-cessation services, alongside medical advice.

Hospitals in Norfolk, London, Leicester and Edinburgh will participate. BBC News

East of England Ambulance Service Trust in legal agreement to tackle sexual harassment

East of England Ambulance Service Trust in legal agreement to tackle sexual harassment An NHS trust has become the first in the UK to be forced to tackle its "high levels" of sexual harassment.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors said the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) had not done enough to ensure staff and patients were protected from abuse. BBC News

Northamptonshire Community Foundation hands out astonishing £1.1m to help 100000 people through pandemic

Northamptonshire Community Foundation hands out astonishing £1.1m to help 100000 people through pandemic Northamptonshire Community Foundation awarded nearly £1.1 million to more than 100,000 people through its Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund, it has been revealed. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Seven share £1,760 court bill for flouting Covid rules in shops, buses and on Northampton street Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• UK holidaymakers could get Covid passports to travel to Europe by late June Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby NHS project to offer free lung ‘MOT’ in bid to catch cancer earlier

Corby NHS project to offer free lung ‘MOT’ in bid to catch cancer earlier In a drive to save lives by detecting cancer early, people in Corby are being invited to take up the offer of a free NHS lung health check 'MOT'.

With one of the lowest survival rates in the country for lung cancer, Corby has been selected as one of 17 projects nationally to run a Targeted Lung Health Checks programme. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The essential guide to provider collaboratives

The essential guide to provider collaboratives As part of system working, it is expected that most NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts will belong to one or more provider collaboratives. These are governed arrangements designed to release very specific benefits as part of the NHS integrated care systems (ICS) arrangements. This guide aims to: clarify what is meant by provider collaborative; explain the benefits of provider collaboratives; provide a ‘how to’ guide on how to set up/ join a provider collaborative; and highlight common pitfalls and success factors. Good Governance Institute

Black, Asian and minority ethnic views on the Covid-19 vaccine

Black, Asian and minority ethnic views on the Covid-19 vaccine In February, Healthwatch Camden worked with three local community organisations to survey 223 people about their views on the Covid-19 vaccine and the local rollout. Nearly all responders (97 per cent) were from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds. Amongst the findings  in the report were: the more knowledge someone felt they had about the vaccine, the greater the likelihood of them wanting to be vaccinated; people receive most of the information about the vaccine from television and social media; and younger people and people from Black or Black British backgrounds were less likely to get the vaccine, which is consistent with existing national evidence on this topic.

IGNITE Summit 2020: learnings from the Covid-19 pandemic to accelerate medical innovation

IGNITE Summit 2020: learnings from the Covid-19 pandemic to accelerate medical innovation This report, published following the IGNITE Summit 2020 (a medical innovation summit), sets out a series of “key game changers” to help build a resilient, prosperous and pioneering world-leading health innovation system. The summit brought together a diverse group of leaders from across the country, and internationally, to focus on what the pandemic has taught us and how we can use that learning to optimise the UK’s medical innovation system moving forward. Northern Health Science Alliance 

Thousands with high cholesterol set to benefit from new treatment on the NHS

Thousands with high cholesterol set to benefit from new treatment on the NHS Around 70,000 adults in England with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia, also known as high cholesterol, will now be eligible for treatment with bempedoic acid with ezetimibe, if statins cannot be taken, or have not worked for themas a result of final NICE guidance published today.

Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting

Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting Information on the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccination. Public Health England

Covid: One dose of vaccine halves transmission - study

Covid: One dose of vaccine halves transmission - study A single dose of a coronavirus vaccine can reduce household transmission of the virus by up to half, a study shows.

Those given a first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines - and who became infected three weeks later - were between 38% and 49% less likely to pass the virus on than unvaccinated people, PHE found. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Three cases of Indian variant found in Leicester BBC News
• Why India's Covid crisis matters to the whole world BBC News
• India coronavirus: Can it make enough vaccines to meet demand? BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Sore arm and headache most common side effects BBC News
• Expert warns that heavy drinking can suppress your immune system and weaken Covid shot's effects The Daily Mail
• Over 42s can now book a Covid vaccine - everything you need to know The Daily Telegraph
• AstraZeneca to 'strongly defend' itself in court after EU sues over vaccine delays The Daily Telegraph
• Leading scientists urge UK to share Covid vaccines with poorer nations The Guardian
• Coronavirus UK cases map: Are infections rising in your area? The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS app to be used as coronavirus passport for international travel, Grant Shapps confirms Sky News

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital: 'Serious concerns' over three operations

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital: 'Serious concerns' over three operations A surgeon botched two operations and had concerns raised about another in the space of a week, with one patient saying his life has been "ruined".

The gall bladder procedures took place at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) in January 2020.

The surgeon who carried them out is being investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC). BBC News

See also:

• Three NHS patients ‘mutilated’ by surgeon in a single week prompts shake-up at NHS trust The Independent

Public feel ‘proud to be British’ thanks to NHS staff

Public feel ‘proud to be British’ thanks to NHS staff Two-thirds of people say the hard work of NHS staff during the Covid pandemic makes them proud to be British.

A new poll for NHS Charities Together, for which Captain Sir Tom Moore raised almost £33 million, found that 86% of the general public agree NHS staff have been “there for us” during the pandemic. ITV News

See also:

• Patriotic devotion to the NHS hurts patients and staff – history shows it stops much-needed reform iNews

Thousands of Northampton patients missed from shielding list at start of lockdown

Thousands of Northampton patients missed from shielding list at start of lockdown Thousands of vulnerable patients in Northampton were not told to shield until months after lockdown began last year, figures reveal.

A group of MPs said the Government's lack of planning created a postcode lottery with areas across England reporting unacceptable variations in the number of people shielding. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Health chiefs investigate Covid outbreaks at two businesses in Northampton and Daventry Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Children more likely to be obese in Northamptonshire from a decade ago

Children more likely to be obese in Northamptonshire from a decade ago Children are more likely to be obese when they leave Northamptonshire's primary schools as they were a decade ago, figures show.

A new report from Public Health England looking back over the last 10 years has concluded there is a strong link between obesity and the poorest areas in the country. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Realising the promise of place-based partnerships

Realising the promise of place-based partnerships Understanding and supporting the development of local place-based partnerships has been a priority for the King's Fund for many years (see, for example, our 2015 report on place-based systems of care) and this has stepped up a gear in recent months as ‘place’ has become increasingly central to discussions about how ICSs will work once they move onto a statutory footing.

Track and trace: identifying corruption risks in UK public procurement for the Covid-19 pandemic

Track and trace: identifying corruption risks in UK public procurement for the Covid-19 pandemic This report on procurement during the pandemic involved a painstaking review of nearly 1,000 contracts worth a total of £18 billion. It concludes that the way the UK government handled bids for supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) and other Covid-19 response contracts appears partisan and systemically biased in favour of those with political access. Transparency International UK

NHS to invite people aged 44 for life saving COVID-19 jab

NHS to invite people aged 44 for life saving COVID-19 jab People aged 44 will be invited to book their COVID-19 jab from Monday as the NHS vaccine programme, the biggest and fastest in its history, continues at pace.

England’s top doctor is urging people to come forward for their jab when they are invited do to so. NHS England

Inside a long Covid clinic: 'I want to play with my kids again'

Inside a long Covid clinic: 'I want to play with my kids again' Zaz Hassan survived Covid but, one year on, is still living with the after-effects of the virus.

"You live with the hope that you will get better," Zaz tells me, as he takes a break from his physio class at Croydon University Hospital's long Covid centre.

"For me, the end point would be to get back to work and just play with my kids. It may take time but people are recovering, so there is still the hope that I can come out of this." BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: EU sues AstraZeneca over vaccine delivery delays BBC News
• AstraZeneca: US to share up to 60m vaccine doses BBC News
• Covid-19 in India: Visual guide to the crisis BBC News
• At least 1,500 people complain that they developed ringing in the ears after their vaccine The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases drop 30% in a week with 2,064 positive tests and six more deaths The Daily Mail
• Scientific advisers hit back at open letter demanding end to Covid restrictions The Independent

Miscarriage rates 'over 40% higher' in black people

Miscarriage rates 'over 40% higher' in black people Black women face a significantly higher risk of having a miscarriage than white, research suggests.

The Lancet analysis of data on 4.6 million pregnancies in seven countries suggests being black increases miscarriage risk by 43%.

It calls for people in the UK to be given support after their first pregnancy loss. BBC News

See also:

• Recurrent miscarriage: evidence to accelerate action (open access) The Lancet
• Miscarriage costs UK at least £471m each year with both parents ‘experiencing profound psychological repercussions’ The Independent

Lockdowns hurt child speech and language skills - report

Lockdowns hurt child speech and language skills - report There is growing evidence that the past year of lockdowns has had an impact on young children's language skills, according to research.

Data from 50,000 pupils and a survey of schools across England have shown an increased number of four- and five-year-olds needing help with language.

Evidence shows poor speech development can have long-term effects on learning. BBC News

AI breakthrough could speed up lung cancer diagnosis – and save the NHS millions

AI breakthrough could speed up lung cancer diagnosis – and save the NHS millions More than 60,000 people a year could be spared the prolonged stress of unnecessary tests for lung cancer after a breakthrough in diagnosis using artificial intelligence.

The development also has the potential to eliminate about 3,300 unnecessary biopsies a year and to speed up diagnosis in a further 3,400 patients that do have the disease, potentially saving the NHS millions of pounds a year, researchers say. iNews

See also:

• External validation of a convolutional neural network artificial intelligence tool to predict malignancy in pulmonary nodules (open access) BMJ Thorax

Health minister refuses meeting with NHS workers over 1% pay offer

Health minister refuses meeting with NHS workers over 1% pay offer Health Minister Helen Whatley has declined to meet NHS workers and discuss how they feel about the Government’s 1% pay recommendation.

GMB invited the Conservative MP and Health Minister to meet frontline NHS workers so they could explain how they feel about the Government’s 1% pay recommendation. NursingNotes

Northamptonshire school Covid cases on the rise after sharp decline

Northamptonshire school Covid cases on the rise after sharp decline Covid cases in Northamptonshire schools are rising according to latest figures from Public Health bosses.

Weekly average case volumes had been high up to March 31, after which they decreased rapidly, but recent data shows that the seven-day average case totals have started to rise again, particularly in pupils. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Wising up to levelling up

Wising up to levelling up ‘Levelling up’ has become an earworm. It featured highly in the Conservative manifesto in 2019, which was referring to improving infrastructure, skills, productivity and economic growth across the country. The idea is to make the UK economy less lop-sided, and less focused on London and the South East.

But the government’s levelling up strategy is still under construction. The recently announced Levelling Up Fund is mainly focused on basic infrastructure like transport, not health.

So is levelling up a real and serious aspiration? What would a strategy look like that might also help reduce health inequalities? Podcast from The Health Foundation.

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout: an opportunity to bring digital health and care into the community

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout: an opportunity to bring digital health and care into the community The pandemic has wrought substantial changes in our daily lives. For many of us digital technology has become front and centre in almost everything we do, from buying groceries to seeing family members. In health and care the pandemic has seen an increasing reliance on digital tools ranging from digital triage to video consultations and even endoscopy in the home. And so, it’s changed how services are delivered, how people interact with services, and how data is used and shared. The King's Fund

Stunning photographs show the people behind the national vaccination effort

Stunning photographs show the people behind the national vaccination effort The government has published a series of photographs taken by photojournalists working with the NHS, showcasing the people behind the UK-wide vaccination programme - ahead of a campaign urging under-50s to get the jab. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: Vaccine rollout in England extends to 44-year-olds

Covid-19: Vaccine rollout in England extends to 44-year-olds About half a million more people in England are being invited to book their Covid-19 jab from Monday, as the vaccine rollout opens to 44-year-olds.

Two-thirds of the previous age group - 45 to 49-year-olds - have received their first dose.

The NHS said it would set out when 40 to 43-year-olds would be able to book appointments "in the coming days", and as supply allows. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Science advisers call for better PPE for healthcare workers BBC News
• Covid-19: Hancock welcomes over half of UK getting first jab BBC News
• Covid-19: 'Battle not over' amid jab campaign for under-50s BBC News
• US lifts pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccines BBC News
• Covid: 'Smell training' recommended for lost sense of smell BBC News
• India Covid: Patients dying without oxygen amid Delhi surge BBC News
• Covid: Scientists find more evidence of human-to-cat transmission BBC News
• Police injured and protesters arrested at anti-lockdown demonstration in London The Daily Telegraph
• Why India's Covid catastrophe heralds dawn of ‘two-tiered’ world The Daily Telegraph
• Halfway there … the key numbers that tell the story of the UK’s vaccine drive The Guardian
• Sage warns jails could unleash Covid variants into wider community The Guardian
• UK health regulator concerned over use of rapid coronavirus tests The Guardian
• Outrage as No 10 rules out urgent inquiry into Covid mistakes The Guardian
• Pregnant women with Covid 50% more likely to face severe complications, study finds The Independent
• Summer could see UK go mask free, government advisers say The Independent

Mental health patients ‘missed out on care’ during Covid

Mental health patients ‘missed out on care’ during Covid Mental health patients found their conditions deteriorated during the pandemic because the NHS switched from in-person help to support by telephone, video and text messages, new research reveals.

Many reported a lower quality of care, according to a study by University College London; others had trouble accessing medication, had appointments cancelled or felt the loss of face-to-face help meant they “were missing out on care”. The Guardian

See also:

• Experiences of living with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a coproduced, participatory qualitative interview study (open access) Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Law firm takes up case of nurse fined £10,000 for 1% pay protest

Law firm takes up case of nurse fined £10,000 for 1% pay protest One of the UK’s biggest police forces is refusing to back down after being accused of wrongly issuing a £10,000 fine to a nurse who was protesting over the government’s 1% pay rise for NHS workers, reigniting concern over new powers to inhibit protest.

Karen Reissmann, 61, who has worked as a frontline nurse throughout the pandemic, was handed the fine in March despite offering a risk assessment of her protest to Greater Manchester police (GMP) and ensuring it was Covid-safe. The Guardian

New Oxford vaccine 77% effective against malaria, trial results show

New Oxford vaccine 77% effective against malaria, trial results show A malaria vaccine developed by the same team behind the Oxford coronavirus jab has been found to be 77 per cent effective in providing protection against the mosquito-borne disease, in what is a major scientific breakthrough for the world. The Independent

Doctors using 'rescue therapy' treatment that reverses abortion pill told it may be dangerous

Doctors using 'rescue therapy' treatment that reverses abortion pill told it may be dangerous Women who suddenly change their minds after taking the abortion pill are turning to a controversial treatment in a bid to keep their babies.

Doctors at the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) have treated 90 women in Britain with its 'abortion rescue therapy' in the past year and say almost 50 per cent have maintained their pregnancies. The Daily Mail