Protests call for end to NHS underfunding and understaffing

Protests call for end to NHS underfunding and understaffing Dozens of protests have called for an end to underfunding and understaffing in the NHS across England, Scotland and Wales to mark the health service’s 73rd anniversary.

Campaigners from Keep Our NHS Public said they wanted an end to health service privatisation, better pay and to highlight threats to patient safety due to working conditions. The Guardian 

Queen awards George Cross to entire NHS for courage during pandemic

Queen awards George Cross to entire NHS for courage during pandemic The Queen has awarded the George Cross to the entire NHS, making public a handwritten note in which she praises the "courage, compassion and dedication" of health workers over more than 70 years.

It is only the third time the award – granted in recognition of “acts of the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger” – has been given to a collective body.  The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS Chief Hails ‘Unprecedented’ Honour For Staff NHS England
• Landmarks light up blue to mark NHS 73rd birthday and thank staff for contribution during pandemic NHS England
• Queen gives George Cross to NHS for staff's 'courage and dedication' BBC News
• Queen awards George Cross to NHS in honour of ‘courageous and compassionate’ staff The Independent
• People are thanking the NHS for their work during the pandemic ahead of the organisation’s birthday The Independent
• Queen gives 'courageous' and 'dedicated' NHS the George Cross as William and Kate mark its 73rd birthday Sky News

Why are hospitals turning a blind eye to racist patients who demand a white doctor?

Why are hospitals turning a blind eye to racist patients who demand a white doctor? DR ZESHAN QURESHI: It's 3am at a busy London hospital. I've been called to the delivery of a premature baby. I step into the cubical, where I'm met by the father, who lunges toward me. The Daily Mail

Charities cut adrift dementia patients as dwindling funds see day care groups slashed

Charities cut adrift dementia patients as dwindling funds see day care groups slashed A charity cash crisis has left dementia patients stranded as hundreds of day care services shut up shop for good, a Mail on Sunday investigation has found. Dwindling funds have seen vital local groups for vulnerable adults slashed by a third since the beginning of last year. The Daily Mail

Northampton and Kettering hospitals to fall under new group

Northampton and Kettering hospitals to fall under new group A new group looking after both Kettering and Northampton Hospitals has been formed.

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) NHS Group will came in to effect from Thursday.

The two Trusts remain separate organisations and will each continue to provide services such as maternity, children's and A&E. BBC Northampton

See also: 

• University outlines what new partnership with Northamptonshire hospitals will look like Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A panoramic view of the pandemic’s impact on our health

A panoramic view of the pandemic’s impact on our health The Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry began in October 2020, exploring the pandemic's implications for health and health inequalities in the UK. Since then, the inquiry team has been gathering evidence from a wide range of sources. The resulting report, due to publish next week, will provide a comprehensive review of the factors that affected people’s experiences of the pandemic and led to the UK’s devastating COVID-19 death toll. It also sets out what is needed to improve the nation’s health and shines a light on the immediate issue of recovery.

We spoke to two members of the inquiry team, Mehrunisha Suleman and David Finch, about the work that’s gone on behind the scenes to gather and analyse a wealth of important evidence and build a detailed picture of the pandemic’s impact on our country.

Robot helpers among digital innovations improving adult social care

Robot helpers among digital innovations improving adult social care Robots which help carers to lift people without extra assistance are among dozens of innovations being highlighted as examples of best practice in adult social care. NHS Digital

Build back fairer in Greater Manchester: health equity and dignified lives

Build back fairer in Greater Manchester: health equity and dignified lives The Manchester City Region had a 25 per cent higher Covid-19 death rate than England as a whole in the 13 months to March 2021. This high death rate contributed to a decline in life expectancy in the North West region, which was larger than the average in England. Life expectancy fell in 2020 by 1.6 years for men and 1.2 years for women in the North West compared 1.3 years and 0.9 years, respectively, across England. This report includes recommendations on how to reduce health inequities and build back fairer from the Covid-19 pandemic for future generations. Institute of Health Equity 

Consultation on aligning the upper age for NHS prescription exemptions with State Pension age

Consultation on aligning the upper age for NHS prescription exemptions with State Pension age The consultation seeks views from the public, healthcare organisations and staff on options for implementing a change in the age at which people in England become eligible for free prescriptions from the current age of 60, to 66 years of age.

One option includes introducing a grace period meaning people aged 60 to 65 at the point of any change can continue to receive free prescriptions. Department of Health and Social Care

Guidance: COVID-19 surveillance and immunity studies

Guidance: COVID-19 surveillance and immunity studies An overview of national surveillance programmes to understand how COVID-19 is present and affecting the wider population. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

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

NHS pay: England senior doctors could strikes over 1% rise

NHS pay: England senior doctors could strikes over 1% rise Senior doctors in England will be consulted on taking industrial action if the government's 1% pay rise offer is not improved.

The British Medical Association says it will ask members about stopping paid and unpaid overtime if there is not a figure nearer 4%.

The Royal College of Nursing has already said it will consider balloting over industrial action. BBC News

See also:

• Decent NHS pay rise ‘vital’ for staff morale, insists RCN in joint letter to new health secretary Royal College of Nursing

Ministers plan to end social distancing in England on 19 July

Ministers plan to end social distancing in England on 19 July Ministers are planning to remove all mandatory mask and social distancing restrictions in England on 19 July, but national guidance may still encourage caution in high-risk areas such as public transport.

A number of key scientific advisers including England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, are said to be behind ministers’ plans to lift restrictions, though they have cautioned that the NHS may come under pressure in the winter. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: Scientists call for expanded list of symptoms BBC News
• Vaccine hesitancy: Your job or the jab? BBC News
• Hospital surfaces are not likely to be contaminated with COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• 'Millions' of Covid cases missed because of NHS' narrow symptom list The Daily Mail
• A QUARTER of hospitalized men with COVID-19 end up in ICUs compared to a fifth of women The Daily Mail
• Can we now live with the coronavirus? There are still no easy answers | Devi Sridhar The Guardian
• Not enough evidence to back Covid jabs for children, says UK expert  The Guardian

AI software may help spot early signs of oesophageal cancer

AI software may help spot early signs of oesophageal cancer One of the NHS’s leading hospital trusts has begun using artificial intelligence to help detect cancer in the gullet, which kills 8,000 Britons a year. It is hoped the technology will increase the number of cases of cancer in the oesophagus that doctors spot.

Oesophageal cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It is hard to detect, particularly in its early stages, and many people who get it die soon after their diagnosis. Fewer than one in five of those diagnosed are still alive five years later. The Guardian

NHS chief admits hospital was not a safe environment for mothers and babies

NHS chief admits hospital was not a safe environment for mothers and babies The chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust has admitted the trust did not create an environment where midwives could provide safe care to women and babies.

In a leaked message sent to staff at the trust on Thursday, and obtained by The Independent, Tracy Taylor, who took over as chief executive in 2017, told staff the revelations made for “difficult reading”.

See also:

• Maternity scandal trust could now face criminal prosecution The Independent

Former senior NHS Manager jailed for defrauding the taxpayer

Former senior NHS Manager jailed for defrauding the taxpayer A former senior manager for the NHS was jailed on Wednesday having defrauded hundreds of thousands of pounds from a hospital trust where he worked. The Independent

Northamptonshire hospitals gain university hospital status which will bring 'major benefits' to towns

Northamptonshire hospitals gain university hospital status which will bring 'major benefits' to towns Staff from Kettering General Hospital (KGH) and Northampton General Hospital (NGH) are celebrating having achieved University Hospital status. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Four-month-old baby dies after being left in adult bed at Northampton home

Four-month-old baby dies after being left in adult bed at Northampton home The coroner has overseen numerous inquests recently about similar situations to this and subsequently warned parents about the dangers of sleeping environments for babies. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What’s in Sajid Javid’s in-tray?

What’s in Sajid Javid’s in-tray? It’s difficult to think of a tougher time to transition to a new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The Civil Service machine will have been whirring into action – briefing the new Minister, working out which decisions can wait and which can’t, who to meet. I’ve worked in a Minister’s office when there was a reshuffle and in a Secretary of State’s office so I have a good sense of what those (virtual) corridors will be feeling like at the moment. What is in Sajid Javid’s in-tray? The King's Fund

The whole of society will benefit from social care reform

The whole of society will benefit from social care reform Social care in England needs fixing. It is underfunded, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without the care they need. Those working in the sector are underpaid and frequently experience poor conditions. And the provider market is financially fragile and struggles to attract the investment needed for innovation. These are all problems that any social care reform plan put forward by the government must address. The Health Foundation

‘Abuse is not in a day’s work’

‘Abuse is not in a day’s work’ NHS Leeds CCG has published a new no tolerance campaign on their website, reinforcing the message that Leeds is taking a zero tolerance approach to abuse and aggression towards its staff and patients.

Framework for involving patients in patient safety

Framework for involving patients in patient safety This framework provides guidance on how the NHS can involve people in their own safety as well as improving patient safety in partnership with staff: maximising the things that go right and minimising the things that go wrong for people receiving healthcare. NHS England

Most vulnerable could be offered booster COVID-19 vaccines from September

Most vulnerable could be offered booster COVID-19 vaccines from September Millions of people most vulnerable to COVID-19 may be offered a booster vaccination from September to ensure the protection they have from first and second doses is maintained ahead of the winter and against new variants, following interim advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• JCVI interim advice on a potential coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccine programme for winter 2021 to 2022 Department of Health and Social Care

Pupil self-isolation Covid impact 'not monitored'

Pupil self-isolation Covid impact 'not monitored' The government cannot say how many Covid cases in England are being prevented by sending pupils home from school to self-isolate.

The BBC has been told it does not monitor how many children self-isolating end up getting the virus.

It means the effectiveness of the policy cannot be fully judged. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: NHS plans booster jab for those 50 and over before winter BBC News
• Covid transmission 'common' in pet cats and dogs BBC News
• 'Long Covid cases under-reported' in GP records BBC News
• Football linked to 2,000 Scottish Covid cases BBC News
• Covid: UK cases spike 62% in a week to 26,068 but deaths drop to 14 amid calls to 'go quicker' The Daily Mail
• About 80% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients develop a neurological condition, study finds The Daily Mail
• One in 100 NHS beds are taken up by Covid patients compared to one in six at start of December The Daily Mail
• Stop sending whole bubbles into isolation for one positive Covid test, schools told The Daily Telegraph
• NHS GPs giving second Covid jabs just three weeks apart The Guardian
• Expand Covid symptoms list so cases aren’t missed, scientists urge government The Independent
• NHS chief slams Boris Johnson for ignoring needs of children during the pandemic iNews

Sajid Javid sounds like a lockdown sceptic, but he won’t want to alienate the NHS

Sajid Javid sounds like a lockdown sceptic, but he won’t want to alienate the NHS | Tim Bale With Matt Hancock gone, the new health secretary seems to prioritise the economy above all else. How long can that last? The Guardian

These are no longer isolated incidents – failings in NHS maternity services should worry every would-be parent

These are no longer isolated incidents – failings in NHS maternity services should worry every would-be parent That some things go wrong in childbirth is a tragic reality for too many families; some deaths and life-altering injuries just cannot be avoided. Giving birth is not without risk.

But too many families are living with the torment of knowing what happened to them was entirely avoidable and, worse still, that the NHS tried to hide the truth from them, causing them to have to fight for years to get answers. The Independent

See also: 

• Revealed: Dozens of baby deaths after errors at one of UK’s largest hospitals The Independent
• ‘How many more are there?’ Grieving parents call for action as they tell their stories of tragedy The Independent
• Midwife from scandal-hit Shrewsbury NHS trust elected as president of Royal College The Independent

Government commission ignored evidence of NHS racism, says British Medical Association

Government commission ignored evidence of NHS racism, says British Medical Association The British Medical Association has said the highly-contested Sewell report “ignored well-documented” evidence of structural racism.

The professional body for doctors refuted the report’s overall findings and said the government-appointed Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) missed opportunities to identify effective solutions to tackling racial inequality. The Independent

See also:

• Sewell report ignores ‘well-documented’ evidence of structural racism in the NHS BMA

'Government to decide' on when to publish much-anticipated NHS pay report

'Government to decide' on when to publish much-anticipated NHS pay report Healthcare unions have been calling for an immediate pay rise of between 12.5% and 15% since July last year.

It is down to the Government to decide when to publish much-anticipated recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB), the Office of Manpower Ergonomics (OME) has confirmed. Nursing Notes 

Health chief "tentatively confident" on July 19 despite Northamptonshire Covid cases biggest daily rise since March

Health chief "tentatively confident" on July 19 despite Northamptonshire Covid cases biggest daily rise since March Northamptonshire saw its highest daily number of new Covid-19 cases in more than three months as figures showed two major towns still lagging behind in vaccine uptake. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• New Corby Covid-19 vaccination site opens tomorrow Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mental health support for some people with acne

Mental health support for some people with acne In final guidance published today (25 June), NICE has for the first time recommended mental health support for people who are severely affected by their acne. 

Student mental health and wellbeing: insights from higher education providers and sector experts

Student mental health and wellbeing: insights from higher education providers and sector experts This research report uses survey data and interviews to explore: approaches to supporting students’ wellbeing and mental health[; the range of services available to students; data collected on the prevalence of mental health difficulties and levels of wellbeing; and evidence gaps. Department of Education

See also: 

• Higher education and mental health: analyses of the LSYPE cohorts Department of Education

Rheumatology workforce: a crisis in numbers

Rheumatology workforce: a crisis in numbers This report presents a detailed analysis of the entire adult, paediatric and adolescent rheumatology workforce, including comprehensive UK-wide workforce data. The findings provide robust evidence in areas that have traditionally relied on anecdote, such as chronic understaffing, persistent regional and national vacancies and lack of exposure to the specialty throughout training and early career. The report's recommendations include: investment in the rheumatology workforce to secure long-term sustainability; enhanced roles for allied health professionals and increasing numbers of pharmacists and nurses to ease the current crisis and increasing exposure to rheumatology in training. British Society for Rheumatology 

Preoperative assessment and optimisation for adult surgery including consideration of Covid-19 and its implications

Preoperative assessment and optimisation for adult surgery including consideration of Covid-19 and its implications This guidance, produced by a leading group of professional healthcare organisations including the Centre for Perioperative Care the and the Royal College of General Practitioners, supports clinicians to help patients to get ready for their surgery and improve their health. Embedding shared decision making into perioperative care pathways, as described in NICE guidance on shared decision-making, is recommended as an important step to ensure patients get the right care for them, every time. Royal College of Surgeons of England 

Disabled needs forgotten during Covid, BBC research reveals

Disabled needs forgotten during Covid, BBC research reveals Thousands of deaf and disabled people across the UK have told the BBC of the devastating impact the pandemic has had on their lives.

Most said their disability had worsened and more than 2,400 said routine, often vital, medical appointments had been cancelled.

More than 3,300 people took part in the research carried out by BBC News.

See also:

• Covid death rate 25% higher in Greater Manchester - report BBC News
• How many cases in your area? BBC News
• Coronavirus: When can we stop wearing face masks or coverings? BBC News
• Covid accounted for just one in 130 deaths in England last week The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases rise above 20,000 for SECOND day in a row The Daily Mail
• Covid-related pupil absence hits record high of 375,000 The Daily Telegraph
• Chris Whitty may get police protection as PM condemns ‘despicable harassment’ The Guardian
• Serco expects 50% jump in profits on back of Covid contracts The Guardian
• Fourth lockdown: Is UK likely to face new restrictions? The Independent
• Vaccine shortfall threaten greater instability, migration and disease for poor countries The Independent
• Life after Covid-19: How social distancing, schools, travel and NHS will look when pandemic becomes endemic iNews

Teach pelvic floor exercises in school, says NICE

Teach pelvic floor exercises in school, says NICE Girls aged 12 to 17 should be taught in school how to do pelvic floor exercises, according to new draft health guidelines.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says it could help them avoid issues such as incontinence later in life.

The exercises are simple - although they can take practice - and can be done anywhere and at any time. BBC News 

Why do so many adults fail to get their ADHD diagnosed?

Why do so many adults fail to get their ADHD diagnosed? Many of us think of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as a childhood condition – which is typically when it’s diagnosed. But a growing number of people are sharing their experiences of being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. The Independent

Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough now have the lowest East Midlands Covid rates

Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough now have the lowest East Midlands Covid rates The three lowest Covid rates in the East Midlands are all in districts in the north of Northamptonshire, latest figures have revealed. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton professor offers NHS workers 50 percent discount on 'game changer' mental health treatment

Northampton professor offers NHS workers 50 percent discount on 'game changer' mental health treatment A mental health clinic in Northampton is offering NHS workers a 50 percent discount on their first consultation for an alternative mental health treatment during July.

Professor Alex O’Neill Kerr, previously an NHS doctor, is offering the discount for transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Will the NHS be on the table for a Pacific trade deal?

Will the NHS be on the table for a Pacific trade deal? Only six months since it left the EU single market, talks have begun for the UK to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mark Dayan and Martha McCarey look at the key ways in which joining the CPTPP could affect health in this country. Nuffield Trust 

Working well? How the pandemic change work for people with health conditions

Working well? How the pandemic change work for people with health conditions This research report, produced together with the Institute for Employment Studies, highlights the challenges faced by employees with long-term health conditions and warns that more support is needed to help people manage their conditions in the workplace if the state pension is to rise further. Centre for Ageing Better

Upgrading PPE for staff working on COVID-19 wards cut hospital-acquired infections dramatically

Upgrading PPE for staff working on COVID-19 wards cut hospital-acquired infections dramatically When Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge upgraded its face masks for staff working on COVID-19 wards to filtering face piece 3 (FFP3) respirators, it saw a dramatic fall – up to 100% – in hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections among these staff. University of Cambridge

See also:

• FFP3 respirators protect healthcare workers against infection  with SARS-CoV-2 (open access) Authorea
• Covid: Masks upgrade cuts infection risk, research finds BBC News

COVID-19 vaccines have prevented 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths

COVID-19 vaccines have prevented 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths New analysis suggests the vaccination programme has prevented between 6.4 and 7.9 million infections and 26,000 and 28,000 deaths in England alone. Public Health England

See also: 

• Speak up and help beat coronavirus (COVID-19) Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: England lockdown end still set for 19 July - Javid

Covid-19: England lockdown end still set for 19 July - Javid The final easing of lockdown measures in England is still set for 19 July, the new health secretary has said.

Sajid Javid told MPs that ministers "see no reason to go beyond" that "target date".

He said that while cases were rising, the number of deaths "remains mercifully low". BBC News

See also:

• Mixing Covid vaccines gives good protection, study suggests BBC News
• Covid: School isolation rules could end in autumn BBC News
• Police investigating after Chris Whitty accosted in park BBC News
• Sufferer of long-Covid describes one of its most debilitating symptoms The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Daily cases more than double to 22,868 but deaths drop 40% The Daily Mail
• Fewer than one in 1,000 patients are dying from Covid now compared to one in 90 during second wave The Daily Mail
• Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may provide protection against the virus for years, study finds The Daily Mail
• Covid-19: New research suggests when very first case happened The Independent

Health minister Helen Whately used private email for government work

Health minister Helen Whately used private email for government work Exclusive: social care minister’s use of Gmail will raise further questions after reports about Matt Hancock

A third health minister, Helen Whately, used a private email account for government business, the Guardian can reveal, as the UK’s information watchdog said it was considering launching an investigation into the use of Gmail by Matt Hancock and James Bethell.

The Guardian can also reveal a number of emails were copied into Lord Bethell’s private email account. His address was copied into at least four official exchanges relating to a businessman who was attempting to get government contracts during the pandemic.

Another vaccine milestone passed yet Northamptonshire's new Covid cases continue to climb

Another vaccine milestone passed yet Northamptonshire's new Covid cases continue to climb Around six in every ten adults aged under 30 in Northamptonshire have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine following the success of 'Grab a Jab' weekend. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Half of under 30s in England vaccinated against Covid after ‘grab a jab’ weekend Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Unseen, Unequal and Unfair: Chronic Pain in England

Unseen, Unequal and Unfair: Chronic Pain in England The findings from Versus Arthritis’s latest report  are stark and illustrate the scale of the public health crisis.

Chronic pain (defined as pain which has lasted more than 12 weeks despite treatment or medication) affects around 15.5 million people – a third of the population in England.

Of great concern is that 5.5 million people in England (12% of the population) have high-impact chronic pain, the most disabling form which means a person struggles to take part in daily activities.

We Also Served: The Health and Well-Being of Female Veterans in the UK

We Also Served: The Health and Well-Being of Female Veterans in the UK This scoping review explores the health and well-being needs of female veterans in the UK.

Research focused on female veterans in the UK is limited and not enough is known about their health, well-being, and Service experiences. In recognition of this, in June 2020, the Cobseo Female Veteran Cluster Group, supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement, commissioned the VFI to undertake a scoping study into the health and well-being needs of female veterans in the UK, identify gaps in research utilising national and international research and to provide a framework for prioritising research and other activities in the UK going forward. This report details the findings. Veterans and Families Research Hub

UK surpasses 500,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) tests genomically sequenced

UK surpasses 500,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) tests genomically sequenced The UK has today (Sunday 27 June) surpassed over half a million genomically sequenced positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, as the UK’s testing programme continues to ramp up. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, prioritises ending pandemic Department of Health and Social Care
• The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme jabs half of adults under 30 NHS England

Booster jab study chief makes urgent appeal for more trial sign-ups

Booster jab study chief makes urgent appeal for more trial sign-ups The scientist leading the government’s trial into whether people in the UK need a booster vaccine has made an urgent appeal for volunteers, in order to complete the research by autumn.

The study’s chief, Professor Saul Faust, is in a race against time to determine if booster jabs will be effective in combatting a potential winter wave of infections, and wants more people who have received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to sign up to the project. The Independent

See also:

• Covid cases return to early-April levels BBC News
• No major outbreaks found at government mass pilot events BBC News
• Covid: Loneliness a 'bigger health risk than smoking or obesity' BBC News
• Long Covid: 'I've blood clots, a braced leg and damaged heart... but I'm home' BBC News
• Outbreaks emerge across Australia in 'new phase' of pandemic BBC News
• Covid booster vaccines may NOT be needed this autumn, No10 adviser says The Daily Mail
• Covid booster: first 'variant vaccine' used in new Oxford trial The Daily Telegraph
• Is the new ‘delta plus’ Covid variant more dangerous? Scientists scramble to understand the facts The Daily Telegraph
• With 21 million still unvaccinated, Britain is not out of the woods yet The Guardian
• Sajid Javid expected to confirm 19 July as end of lockdown easing in England The Guardian
• Sajid Javid rules out further lockdowns: ‘There’s no going back’ The Independent
• Covid: Stronger border measures may have prevented Delta spread in UK, government adviser says The Independent
• After ‘grab a jab’ weekend 84% of all adults have had first dose of vaccine iNews

The huge NHS challenge facing Sajid Javid

The huge NHS challenge facing Sajid Javid Sajid Javid has taken over from Matt Hancock as Health Secretary for England at an extraordinary time - what does the change at the top mean for the NHS?

Mr Javid is a political heavyweight, having held two of the great offices of state, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary, as well as three other Cabinet posts.

What's more he was at one stage the minister in charge of social care in England. BBC News

See also:

• Medical chief on what he thinks Sajid Javid's priorities should be BBC News
• Sajid Javid wants return to normal 'as soon as possible' BBC News
• ‘Sajid Javid’s appointment offers real opportunities to deal with underlying problems’, says former department of health permanent secretary Channel 4 News
• What’s in Sajid Javid’s in-tray at the department of health? The Guardian
• With Hancock abandoned, Sajid Javid is likely to lead the government on a less cautious pandemic route iNews
• New health secretary Sajid Javid faces 'baptism of fire' warns BMA chair with NHS staff 'absolutely exhausted' ITV News

Matt Hancock still facing questions after resignation

Matt Hancock still facing questions after resignation Matt Hancock is still facing several questions following his resignation as health secretary over an affair with his aide Gina Coladangelo.

Labour wants an inquiry into an alleged use of private emails for government business, which could be a rule breach.

There are also questions over Ms Coladangelo's parliamentary pass and Mr Hancock's entitlement to severance pay. BBC News

See also: 

• Matt Hancock quits as health secretary in aide row BBC News
• Hancock faces scrutiny for using private email for official business BBC News
• Sajid Javid praises predecessor Matt Hancock BBC News
• The final straw: how appeal from 80 Tory MPs sealed Matt Hancock's fate The Daily Telegraph
• Coronaviral: How the internet reacted to claims of Matt Hancock affair The Daily Telegraph
• Government to investigate leak of Matt Hancock CCTV footage The Guardian
• Boris Johnson may pay political price for not sacking Matt Hancock The Guardian
• 'I've got to resign': Matt Hancock steps down after breaching Covid rules – video The Guardian
• ‘Follow the rules’: what Matt Hancock told us – and what he did The Guardian
• People share things Covid stopped them doing after Hancock breach The Independent
• Matt Hancock faces litany of accusations about conduct as questions mount over private emails and hiring staff iNews

Drug firms giving MPs ‘hidden’ funding, research shows

Drug firms giving MPs ‘hidden’ funding, research shows Drug companies are giving groups of MPs and peers that campaign on health issues hundreds of thousands of pounds a year in “hidden” funding that could hand them “undue influence”, research has found.

The pharmaceutical industry has built up a “hidden web of policy influence” over dozens of all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) at Westminster by making hundreds of “non-transparent” payments to them, as part of the industry’s wider effort to lobby those in power, researchers claim. The Guardian

See also:

• A hidden web of policy influence: The pharmaceutical industry’s engagement with UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Groups (open access) PLOS One

Time to scrap prescription charges - it'll make us all healthier and save the NHS millions

Time to scrap prescription charges - it'll make us all healthier and save the NHS millions At present, patients in England pay a standard £9.35 for every item on an NHS prescription. MP Carolyn Harris says that she wants menopausal women exempted. The Daily Mail

It's 'Grab a Jab' weekend as drop-in vaccinations available for all Northamptonshire over-18s

It's 'Grab a Jab' weekend as drop-in vaccinations available for all Northamptonshire over-18s Drop-in jabs for all adults will be available this weekend as part of a big push to get as many Northamptonshire folk as possible protected against Covid-19. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Nurse struck off for secretly filming woman on toilet in Northampton for sexual gratification

Nurse struck off for secretly filming woman on toilet in Northampton for sexual gratification A nurse has been struck off after secretly filming a woman on the toilet at a venue in Northampton for sexual gratification while there to administer flu jabs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Switched on: how do we get the best out of automation and AI in health care?

Switched on: how do we get the best out of automation and AI in health care? This report calls on policymakers and NHS leaders to invest in infrastructure and skills to enable NHS staff to use automation technologies and AI safely and effectively in the future, and to engage with the public and NHS workforce to build confidence in technology enabled care. It found that 36 per cent of the general public and 44 per cent of NHS staff surveyed wanted to see more automation and AI in health care in the future – compared to 21 per cent of the public and 14 per cent of NHS staff who said they would like to see less. The Health Foundation

Admin matters: the impact of NHS administration on patient care

Admin matters: the impact of NHS administration on patient care High-quality NHS admin processes can improve patient experience, help to address inequalities and promote better care. This long read suggests a framework for improving the quality of admin based on insight from patients, carers and NHS staff. The King's Fund

Test and trace in England – progress update

Test and trace in England – progress update With one of the largest pandemic-related budgets, the NHS Test and Trace Service (NHST&T) has expanded its testing capacity, tracing activities and distribution of rapid tests, but has further to go in reducing the overall time taken for reaching all cases and their contacts, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

Today’s report is the NAO’s second on government’s approach to test and trace services in England and focuses on the period from November 2020 to April 2021. National Audit Office

See also:

• Test and Trace costs remain a concern as performance falls seriously short Nuffield Trust
• Covid-19: NHS Test and Trace weaknesses remain, says watchdog BBC News
• Almost 600m NHS home Covid tests unaccounted for, auditors reveal The Guardian

NHS walk-in vaccination sites open up in ‘Grab A Jab’ weekend

NHS walk-in vaccination sites open up in ‘Grab A Jab’ weekend Hundreds of walk-in NHS COVID-19 vaccination sites will be operating this weekend with any adult able to turn up and ‘grab a jab’. Anyone aged 18 or over can turn up at the sites, which include football stadiums, theatres, supermarket car parks and shopping centres, and get vaccinated without needing to book in advance. NHS England

Covid: The man who tested positive for Covid 43 times

Covid: The man who tested positive for Covid 43 times Scientists are studying the case of a man in Bristol who has recovered from 290 days being positive with SARS-CoV-2.

Dave, 72, is a driving instructor and musician who's spent the last 10 months with an active coronavirus infection, visiting hospital seven times. His immune system was vulnerable to the virus after a leukaemia diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: High risk kidney patients in tapeworm drug trial BBC News
• Britain records 16,703 Covid cases in highest toll since start of FEBRUARY The Daily Mail
• Around 4% of COVID-19 patients who lost their smell still had not gotten it back ONE YEAR later The Daily Mail
• Entire schools closed owing to Delta variant The Daily Telegraph
• ‘Your body just stops’: long Covid sufferers face new ordeals as sick pay runs out The Guardian
• Experts press ministers to publish mass event pilot findings for England The Guardian
• Covid: Hundreds of walk-in vaccination sites to open to anyone in ‘grab a jab’ weekend The Independent

Woman dies after Scottish cancer screening error

Woman dies after Scottish cancer screening error A woman has died from cervical cancer after being wrongly excluded from Scotland's screening programme.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said about 430 women who had partial hysterectomies were wrongly told they didn't need to be screened.

A "small number" of these women later developed cervical cancer and one has since died. BBC News

Rates of skin cancer type in UK men jumps by nearly half in decade, research finds

Rates of skin cancer type in UK men jumps by nearly half in decade, research finds Diagnoses of a type of skin cancer has jumped by nearly half for men in the UK in the space of a decade, according to new research.

The average incidence rate for Melanoma was 19.5 per 100,000 a year among UK males between 2005 and 2007, according to Cancer Research UK. The Independent

See also:

• Men’s skin cancer rates increase by 50% over decade Cancer Research UK

A&E units in UK report rapid rise in children’s infections

A&E units in UK report rapid rise in children’s infections A&E units are treating a sudden surge in young children suffering from infections usually only seen in winter after the rules on social contact were relaxed, doctors have revealed.

Anxious parents are bringing in preschool age children who have a high temperature and difficulty breathing, increasing demand on emergency departments that are already “overwhelmed”. The Guardian

See also:

• A&Es 'overwhelmed' by children with mild winter viruses, doctors warn BBC News
• 'Record' numbers of children in A&E with fevers as experts fear 'winter in June' The Daily Telegraph

Blood test that can detect more than 50 cancers to be trialled by NHS

Blood test that can detect more than 50 cancers to be trialled by NHS A blood test which can detect more than 50 types of cancer has been developed and is being trialled by the NHS. 

Scientists from the US trialled the blood test on 2,823 people already diagnosed with cancer, with cases ranging from stage one to four and with myriad forms of the disease. The Daily Telegraph

Pregnant women to be offered up to £400 of shopping vouchers to quit smoking

Pregnant women to be offered up to £400 of shopping vouchers to quit smoking  Pregnant women are to be offered up to £400 of shopping vouchers to quit smoking, under new rules for the NHS.

Health Chiefs said the measure was proved to be "both effective and cost effective".

The scheme will be policed using biochemical tests to check whether participants have quit. The Daily Telegraph 

KGH nurse 'may have saved domestic abuse victim's life'

KGH nurse 'may have saved domestic abuse victim's life' An "extraordinary" nurse at Kettering General Hospital was praised for the care she gave to an abuse victim who had been subjected to a hot oil attack by his wife. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Healthy workplace toolkit

Healthy workplace toolkit This toolkit provides organisations with a systematic framework to use to improve working environments. The RCN recognises that there are a number of frameworks in place to improve working environments and the health and wellbeing of the workforce, however this framework has been developed with nursing staff with the aim of improving their working environment and conditions and the subsequent impact this will have on their health and wellbeing. Royal College of Nursing

HIV and migration: understanding the barriers faced by people born abroad living with HIV in the UK

HIV and migration: understanding the barriers faced by people born abroad living with HIV in the UK This report, based on interviews with migrants living with HIV in the UK, found migrants are being left behind in the UK’s response to HIV, despite being disproportionately affected by HIV. Respondents said they experienced significant barriers accessing HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care. It recommends how to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of migrants living with or at risk of HIV in the UK. National AIDS Trust

Oxygen issues during the COVID-19 pandemic

Oxygen issues during the COVID-19 pandemic We have now completed a national investigation into the provision of piped oxygen gas supplies to hospitals.

There has been an increased demand for oxygen gas in hospital wards during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 can cause severe inflammation of the lungs affecting a patient’s ability to breathe.

As a result, an increased number of patients have required oxygen therapy within hospitals. Insufficient oxygen supply to seriously ill patients can have very severe consequences, including death. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Outdated hospital oxygen systems ‘risk to patients’, review warns BBC News

New research shows 2 million people may have had long COVID

New research shows 2 million people may have had long COVID Findings from the REACT-2 studies show over a third of people who had coronavirus (COVID-19) reported symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• 3 in 5 UK adults receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine Department of Health and Social Care

Vaccines minister: 'Vaccine hesitancy has halved amongst black and black British people'

Vaccines minister: 'Vaccine hesitancy has halved amongst black and black British people' Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi says the UK's vaccination programme has passed another key milestone, with more than 60% of the adult population now fully vaccinated.

Speaking at a Downing Street briefing he said: "The vaccination programme has been delivered in the community, by the community and for the community". BBC News

See also:

• Long Covid: More than two million in England may be suffering, study suggests BBC News
• Covid vaccine: 'Your vaccine is an evergreen offer' BBC News
• Should schoolchildren still have to self-isolate? BBC News
• Swabbing phones and testing for Covid is 'just as accurate as lateral flow tests', research suggests The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: 16,135 new cases recorded in ANOTHER four-month high The Daily Mail
• NHS workers abused in Covid clinics as people refuse AstraZeneca vaccine The Daily Telegraph
• Jonathan Van-Tam abused in street by anti-vax activist The Daily Telegraph
• NHS alarm over rise in number of UK Covid patients on ventilators The Guardian
• Sharp rise in UK Covid cases casts doubt on more lockdown easing before 19 July The Guardian

NHS nurse sacked over weekend working wins landmark ruling

NHS nurse sacked over weekend working wins landmark ruling A community nurse who was sacked for not agreeing to work weekends has won a “landmark” ruling for working mothers after a judge said employment tribunals must take childcare disparity into account.

Gemma Dobson worked fixed shifts in order to care for her three children, two of whom are disabled. She was fired by North Cumbria integrated NHS foundation trust in 2016 after she was unable to meet a new requirement for community nurses to work flexibly, including some weekends. The Guardian

Man faces jail for £1.5m NHS compensation claim scam

Man faces jail for £1.5m NHS compensation claim scam A 49-year-old man could be sent to prison after making “false statements” in a £1.5 million compensation claim against the NHS.

Darren Dommett, from Grimsby, suffered a fall at home in 2013 after he developed cauda equina syndrome, which causes nerves in the lower back to be severely compressed. The Independent

Matt Hancock's fight for control of NHS faces mounting opposition on Tory backbenches – and concerns in No10

Matt Hancock's fight for control of NHS faces mounting opposition on Tory backbenches – and concerns in No10 Matt Hancock faces a daunting battle over controversial moves to hand himself more powers over hospitals amid opposition from within the health service and some of his own MPs. MSN UK

Fears for rise in cervical cancer cases as thousands of extra Northamptonshire women missed smear tests during pandemic

Fears for rise in cervical cancer cases as thousands of extra Northamptonshire women missed smear tests during pandemic More than 6,000 extra women in Northamptonshire are behind on their cervical screenings compared to before the pandemic, with tens of thousands missing their appointments. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The Brexit referendum five years on: what has it meant for the NHS?

The Brexit referendum five years on: what has it meant for the NHS? Five years on from the Brexit vote, Mark Dayan looks back at the main claims that were made about the NHS before the referendum took place. Which have been proven right and which have proven to be unfounded? Nuffield Trust

Connecting for change: for the future of learning disability nursing

Connecting for change: for the future of learning disability nursing In 2018, the number of learning disability nurses working in NHS hospital and community services in England hit a record low of 3,192 – a fall of 40 per cent in less than a decade. Since then, it has risen to 3,214 – an increase of just 22 full-time equivalent posts in the NHS. This report sets out a series of recommendations and priorities that the UK government and devolved administrations need to address. It also identifies priorities for the RCN to take forward. Royal College of Nursing

Digital boards: tackling digital inclusion means designing services that meet all your users’ needs

Digital boards: tackling digital inclusion means designing services that meet all your users’ needs The acceleration of digital ways of working during the pandemic has seen digital inclusion rise up the board agenda. Board leaders need a shared understanding of what digital inclusion means and clarity on their priorities for action. This briefing defines digital inclusion and highlights practical tips. NHS Providers

Using targets to improve public services

Using targets to improve public services The government has added new targets to existing ones across key public services such as the NHS, schools and the police, which it hopes will improve performance in those services hit by the Covid-crisis. But this report reveals the way that targets have been used for easy wins have ignored important issues and manipulated data. To ensure that new targets are not counterproductive, the government should: develops targets in partnership with those responsible for meeting them; carefully considers the data that is needed, how this is collected and how it will be used to avoid creating unnecessary paperwork for frontline staff; and reviews targets regularly and amends or scraps them if they are having unintended consequences. Institute for Government

£64 million funding to back UK-wide plan to strengthen clinical research delivery

£64 million funding to back UK-wide plan to strengthen clinical research delivery Patients across the UK will benefit from a super-charged clinical research system, backed by over £64 million of dedicated investment, which will save lives across the country.

Following the bold vision Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery published in March, the UK government and devolved administrations today set out the first phase of activity to ensure research will have better health outcomes and allow more patients to be involved in, and benefit from, research of relevance to them. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Ivermectin to be studied as possible treatment in UK

Covid: Ivermectin to be studied as possible treatment in UK University of Oxford scientists are trialling giving Ivermectin to over-50s with Covid symptoms to see if it can keep them out of hospital.

The Principle study will compare those given the drug to patients receiving the usual, standard NHS care.

The drug has become controversial after being promoted for use across Latin America and in South Africa, despite being so far unproven. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: Aim for double-jabbed arrivals to avoid quarantine - Hancock BBC News
• Weekly Covid deaths in England and Wales fall... AGAIN: Just 84 virus victims registered last week The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases hit four-month high of 11,625 as deaths nearly triple in a week to 27 The Daily Mail
• New 'delta plus' coronavirus variant identified in India The Daily Telegraph
• Experts study viability of giving flu and Covid jabs at same time The Guardian
• Pollen helps Covid spread further and faster, scientists find The Independent
• Fears COVID-19 and flu could ruin NHS efforts to deal with backlog of patients Sky News

Keira Bell: NHS trust appeals against puberty blockers ruling

Keira Bell: NHS trust appeals against puberty blockers ruling A Court of Appeal hearing begins today into whether under-16s can give informed consent to medical treatment that delays the onset of puberty.

The appeal is being brought by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the UK's only Gender Identity Development Service (Gids).

The appeal hearing will last for up to two days, and the court will also hear from LGBT and other interested groups. BBC News

See also:

• Keira Bell case: What are puberty blockers? BBC News

Higher ethnic minority maternity risk examined

Higher ethnic minority maternity risk examined A charity has launched an inquiry into why women from ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of serious harm or death in pregnancy and childbirth.

Birthrights says women from ethnic minorities are too often failed by maternity services.

Its year-long inquiry will gather views from parents, midwives, obstetricians and anti-racism campaigners. BBC News

Government postpones ‘do or die’ meeting on social care in England

Government postpones ‘do or die’ meeting on social care in England A “do or die” meeting on social care involving Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock has been postponed, it is understood, as the government came under renewed pressure over delays in setting out a policy for the sector.

The discussion between the prime minister, the chancellor and the health secretary, billed as a chance to set out broad policy objectives for social care, had been scheduled for Tuesday. It is not known why it was postponed, or when the meeting will take place. The Guardian

See also:

• Social care: Ministers urged to 'act now' on funding reform BBC News
• 'You can't fix NHS without fixing social care', says Jeremy Hunt Channel 4 News
• Social care to royal yacht: battle looms over UK spending priorities The Guardian

England’s top nurse says NHS should continue to recruit staff from overseas

England’s top nurse says NHS should continue to recruit staff from overseas England’s chief nurse has said international recruitment to help fill NHS staff shortages should continue just days after reports suggested Baroness Dido Harding wanted to end the practice as part of her pitch to take over the NHS. The Independent

Number of NHS doctors taking early retirement has tripled since 2008

Number of NHS doctors taking early retirement has tripled since 2008 A workforce crisis is brewing in the medical field, as an exhausted workforce and pension tax changes could lead to a mass exodus of highly experienced doctors, the British Medical Association has warned.

Figures provided to the British Medical Journal by the NHS Business Services Authority show that the number of NHS doctors taking an early retirement in England and Wales has more than tripled over the last 13 years, with 1358 doctors taking an early retirement this year compared with just 401 in 2008. The Independent 

Matt Hancock dismisses idea of writing to patients to tell them how to opt out of NHS data sharing

Matt Hancock dismisses idea of writing to patients to tell them how to opt out of NHS data sharing Matt Hancock today defended controversial NHS data-sharing plans, which health chiefs believe will revolutionise patient care.

The Health Secretary insisted 'data saves lives', as he unveiled new plans aimed at boosting patient care.

If approved, the plan would give patients access to their health records through an app. It could also allow them to manage appointments, refill medications and speak with health and care staff when needed. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• NHS data strategy: Hancock defends data sharing plan BBC News
• GP data sharing: What is it and can I opt out? BBC New
• Data Strategy: Patients to get easier access to data through NHS App Digital Health
• Parents trying to opt children out of NHS Digital 'data grab' scheme complain after emails bounce back iNews

Drop-in jabs now available seven-days-a-week at Northamptonshire vaccination centre

Drop-in jabs now available seven-days-a-week at Northamptonshire vaccination centre Drop-in vaccine sessions will be opened up seven-days-a-week in Northamptonshire during the countdown to the government's July 19 target to offer first dose Covid-19 jabs to all adults. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid vaccinations set to reach 500,000 first doses in Northamptonshire as experts step up plea to get protected Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Thousands of abortions recorded in Northamptonshire

Thousands of abortions recorded in Northamptonshire Thousands of women in Northamptonshire had an abortion last year, figures show, amid a relaxation in rules around seeking treatment at home. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Whole system quality: a unified approach to building responsive, resilient health care systems

Whole system quality: a unified approach to building responsive, resilient health care systems This paper describes a more holistic approach to quality management. Through a process of rigorous learning, health care organizations can design resilient and responsive management systems to continuously deliver services that reliably and sustainably meet the evolving needs of patients, populations, and communities — in times of both stability and crisis. Free registration is required to access this paper. Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Socially excluded older people and their access to health and care services: insights from professionals

Socially excluded older people and their access to health and care services: insights from professionals In this report Age UK and the Salvation Arm, together with people who are socially excluded and key professionals, explore some of the challenges older people face when accessing support. Themes the research highlighted are: older people who are socially excluded are living with complex health challenges; existing support services often don't meet the needs of older people; unhealthy behaviours present a greater risk as we get older; and older people face certain attitudes and stereotypes.

Shared decision making

Shared decision making This guidance advises that shared decision making should be part of everyday practice across all health care settings. It sets out ways for health care professionals to work with people using services to make decisions about their treatment and care, and to ensure this is best practice at an organisational level. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Funding boost for young people’s mental health services

Funding boost for young people’s mental health services Children and young people will benefit from a cash injection to mental health services which includes addressing the increasing demand for the treatment of eating disorders.

An extra £40 million has been allocated to address the COVID impact on children and young people’s mental health and enhance services across the country. NHS England

Data strategy to support delivery of patient centred care

Data strategy to support delivery of patient centred care The way data is used across health and care sectors is set to be transformed, giving patients control of their health data and enabling staff to save more lives through improved care and treatment.

The draft strategy ‘Data saves lives: reshaping health and social care with data’ published today by NHSX builds on the ground-breaking use of data during the pandemic with privacy and security of data at its core. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government publishes NHS patient data strategy BBC News
• UK patients to have greater control over healthcare data Health Europa

Covid-19: Matt Hancock hopes to scrap isolation for double-jabbed contacts

Covid-19: Matt Hancock hopes to scrap isolation for double-jabbed contacts Plans to ease Covid restrictions in England on 19 July are "looking good", the prime minister has said.

Boris Johnson said that was based on the efficacy of vaccines against identified variants.

But he warned there could be a "rough winter for all sorts of reasons", including a resurgence of flu. BBC News

See also:

• Covid booster vaccine plan to come in a few weeks - Matt Hancock BBC News
• Covid in Scotland: Sturgeon to confirm delay to lockdown easing BBC News
• Covid: Vaccines running out in poorer nations, WHO says BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Why are Australians cancelling AstraZeneca jabs? BBC News
• We'll be having Covid jabs for the next 10 YEARS, predicts Chris Hopson from NHS Providers The Daily Mail
• Flu could be a bigger problem than Covid this winter because immunity is so low, advisor warns The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson pours cold water on easing Covid rules early The Daily Mail
• Fourth lockdown: Is UK likely to face new restrictions? The Independent
• Thousands of asthma sufferers failed to receive Covid vaccine on time, estimates show The Independent

More than 300 NHS workers attempted suicide in Covid pandemic as charity warns of mental health crisis

More than 300 NHS workers attempted suicide in Covid pandemic as charity warns of mental health crisis More than 300 NHS workers attempted suicide as they responded to the coronavirus pandemic last year, according to figures showing the scale of the mental health crisis facing the frontline.

iNews can reveal that a six-month study by the Laura Hyde Foundation (LHF), which supports emergency workers, found that 226 nurses, 79 paramedics and ambulance staff members and 17 medical students attempted to end their lives in 2020. It warned that a mental health pandemic is on the horizon.

Calls to change the law due to fears patients are being deceived by unqualified ‘nurses’

Calls to change the law due to fears patients are being deceived by unqualified ‘nurses’ The government is being urged to make the term “nurse” a protected legal title amid fears the public is being deceived and put at risk by people masquerading as qualified nurses.

A petition calling for the change has already attracted almost 14,000 signatures and was prompted by the recent case of anti-vaccine activist Kate Shemirani, who was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council last month. The Independent 

Infected blood scandal: Ex-pupil tells inquiry he did not know he was in a trial

Infected blood scandal: Ex-pupil tells inquiry he did not know he was in a trial A man who was one of scores of pupils infected with contaminated blood products at a specialist boarding school has told a public inquiry neither he nor his parents were told that he was taking part in medical trials.

Out of 89 haemophiliac children who attended Treloar College in Hampshire in the 1970s and 1980s, less than a quarter of former pupils are still alive, the public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal heard on Monday. The Guardian

Scientists unlock secret of how people die from a broken heart after tests reveal stressful life events increase levels of two key molecules in heart cells

Scientists unlock secret of how people die from a broken heart after tests reveal stressful life events increase levels of two key molecules in heart cells Scientists have identified why people sometimes die from a broken heart after grief or relationship breakdowns.

They found stressful life events increase levels of two molecules in heart cells which play a crucial role in the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy – or ‘broken heart syndrome’. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Circulating microRNAs predispose to takotsubo syndrome following high-dose adrenaline exposure (open access) Cardiovascular Research
• Broken heart syndrome markers could help identify those at risk Imperial College London