Every voice counted: National training survey 2021 survey report summary results

Every voice counted: National training survey 2021 survey report summary results Each year we ask doctors in training for their views on the training they receive. We also ask their trainers about the support they get in their role. Together, these results help us improve training programmes and posts across the UK. 

We’re pleased to see positive responses to questions on teaching, supervision, and overall training  experience. These remain at pre-pandemic levels, across all specialties, regions, and countries of the UK. However, it’s clear the pandemic and ongoing recovery are taking a toll on the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce, including trainees and trainers. General Medical Council

See also: 

• Pandemic driving surge in burnout among trainee doctors and educators, GMC poll shows GPonline
• One-third of UK trainee doctors feel high level of burnout amid Covid The Guardian

Ethnic differences in life expectancy and mortality from selected causes in England and Wales: 2011 to 2014

Ethnic differences in life expectancy and mortality from selected causes in England and Wales: 2011 to 2014 This is the first use of linked 2011 Census and death registration data to produce experimental national estimates of life expectancy and mortality by cause of death by ethnic group in a pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period; covering 95% of people enumerated in the census and using self-reported ethnic groups, it represents the most comprehensive data available. Office for National Statistics

See also: 

• 'These results should not make for complacency' The King's Fund

What is behind the latest fall in cases of Covid across the UK?

What is behind the latest fall in cases of Covid across the UK? Confirmed infections have dropped 21.5% week on week – though recorded deaths are still on the rise.

Is this how it ends? After an 18-month rollercoaster of soaring and falling cases, and more than 100,000 UK deaths, is the epidemic fizzling out? Has immunity finally got the upper hand, or will the sudden drop in Covid cases prove no more than a brief downturn? There are many moving parts behind the numbers and huge uncertainty over what happens next. The Guardian

See also:

• Brazil: Why are so many pregnant women dying from Covid? BBC News
• ASH SUBRAMANIAN: As a surgeon, stress of the pandemic drove me to the brink The Daily Mail
• SAGE modeller hails UK's falling infections as 'good news' but warns it could be fewer tests The Daily Mail
• Pfizer and Moderna expand their COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in children aged 5-11 The Daily Mail
• Covid: more EU states to restrict venue access for unvaccinated people The Guardian
• Shielders eight times more likely to get Covid-19, study suggests The Independent
• Covid: Dangerous new variants will emerge unless rich countries share vaccines, UK adviser warns The Independent
• NHS vaccine helpline to be set up for people denied Covid passport due to errors iNews

NHS 'as stretched now as it was in January', health leaders say

NHS 'as stretched now as it was in January', health leaders say The NHS is as stretched now as it was at the pandemic's peak in January and things could get worse, health leaders have said.

NHS providers have warned of "the scale of challenges over the next nine months" in a letter to the prime minister, the chancellor, the health secretary, the chief secretary to the Treasury and the chief executive of NHS England. Sky News

See also:

• Government must act as NHS pressures match height of the pandemic NHS Providers

Contaminated blood inquiry: Former health minister Clarke to give evidence

Contaminated blood inquiry: Former health minister Clarke to give evidence Lord Clarke will give evidence under oath to the contaminated blood scandal inquiry later - the first senior health minister from the time to testify.

Around 3,000 people died after being given blood products containing HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s.

As late as November 1983 the government said it was not conclusively proven that HIV could be transmitted through blood products. BBC News 

New NHS data plan delayed to gain patient trust

New NHS data plan delayed to gain patient trust The NHS has been criticized for not engaging with the public about their controversial new scheme to digitalise and share our personal data.

The deadline for people to opt out had been pushed back to September the 1st but that has now been scrapped. NHS officials have told ITV News they now want to focus on reaching out to patients and reassuring them their data is safe.

Health chiefs' plan with a van to deliver swabs on wheels as Covid-19 testing goes mobile in Northamptonshire

Health chiefs' plan with a van to deliver swabs on wheels as Covid-19 testing goes mobile in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire s first mobile lateral flow device testing service is ready to hit the road.

Health chiefs hope their plan with a van delivering swabs on wheels will make it even easier for those with no Covid-19 symptoms to access regular testing after restrictions were lifted on July 19. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Where cases of new Columbian Covid variant are in UK - and its effect on vaccines Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• University students ‘face lectures ban unless they are fully-vaccinated’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Social distancing and face masks set for return in August Northamptonshire Telegraph

Pandemic lessons “cannot wait for Government inquiry” with massive taxpayer exposure & “unacceptably high waste”

Pandemic lessons “cannot wait for Government inquiry” with massive taxpayer exposure & “unacceptably high waste” In two reports, the Public Accounts Committee says the UK Government’s response to the pandemic has exposed the taxpayer to “significant financial risks for decades to come”, with the estimated lifetime cost of the government’s measures reaching £372 billion in May 2021.

The total value of government-backed loans has increased greatly during the crisis, with the taxpayer already on the hook for an estimated £26 billion of credit and fraud losses in the SME bounce back loan scheme.

 

See also:

• Government wasted £2.1bn on PPE that was useless, says new report The Daily Telegraph
• Britain faces ‘decades of financial risk’ as £370bn pandemic bill mounts The Guardian

Daily contact testing rolled out to further critical sectors

Daily contact testing rolled out to further critical sectors Further targeted daily contact testing is being rolled out in England to frontline emergency services and some transport workers, following the government’s close engagement with these sectors in order to avoid any potential disruption to crucial services. Department of health and Social Care

See also: 

• Vaccine rallying cry to young people as England’s NHS hits 70 million COVID jabs NHS England
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments Public Health England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England

Coronavirus infections continue to fall in UK

Coronavirus infections continue to fall in UK The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has continued to fall in the UK, the latest daily figures show.

The UK recorded 29,173 new cases on Sunday - down from 48,161 logged a week earlier on 18 July.

The number of new infections by date reported has fallen for five days in a row for the first time since February. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Recent claims about cremations and vaccines fact-checked BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Speech comparing NHS medics to Nazis condemned BBC News
• Covid-19: Health trusts in appeal to off-duty staff BBC News
• Sajid Javid apologises for 'cower' Covid remark BBC News
• Covid-19's new victims: Doctors warn un-jabbed people make up the bulk of fatalities The Daily Mail
• Falling infections could be 'false peak' amid fears of post-lockdown surge, scientist warns The Daily Telegraph
• UK government opening floodgates to Covid variants, MPs warn The Guardian
• Sage adviser claims ministers trying to get as many as possible infected with Covid The Guardian

Senior doctors in England to be consulted on NHS pay offer

Senior doctors in England to be consulted on NHS pay offer Senior doctors in England will be asked whether they want to consider industrial action over the 3% pay rise offered by the government.

The British Medical Association union says tens of thousands hospital consultants will be contacted.

It previously said industrial action may be considered if senior doctors were not given at least a 5% rise.

The Royal College of Nursing has also said that it could consider striking and would consult members. BBC News 

AI breakthrough could spark medical revolution

AI breakthrough could spark medical revolution Artificial intelligence has been used to predict the structures of almost every protein made by the human body.

The development could help supercharge the discovery of new drugs to treat disease, alongside other applications.

Proteins are essential building blocks of living organisms; every cell we have in us is packed with them. BBC News 

Fears social care billions could be used to plug existing NHS gaps – without solving the problem

Fears social care billions could be used to plug existing NHS gaps – without solving the problem Social care experts have spoken of their concern whether any a potential tax rise aimed at raising extra funding for the sector will instead be diverted to help clear the growing backlog of non-urgent treatment in the NHS. iNews 

NHS England set to announce its new chief executive within days

NHS England set to announce its new chief executive within days Chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard seen as top contender above KPMG’s Mark Britnell

A senior NHS boss and former service high-flyer are among the leading contenders to succeed Simon Stevens in NHS England’s top job, with an announcement imminent.

Ministers and NHS England’s board have been assessing candidates for several weeks and are preparing to name the person who will become the service’s new chief in the next few days. The Guardian

Summer health drive in England as 40% say they gained weight in lockdown

Summer health drive in England as 40% say they gained weight in lockdown A drive to get people fit and healthy this summer has been launched by Public Health England (PHE), as research found more than 40 per cent of adults put on weight during lockdown.

The latest Better Health campaign, the third iteration, includes the updated NHS Weight Loss Plan, an app to help reduce alcohol consumption and measure BMI. The Guardian

New Covid-19 patients admitted every six hours at Northampton General Hospital

New Covid-19 patients admitted every six hours at Northampton General Hospital Under-pressure Northampton General Hospital staff are seeing the number of Covid-19 patients in NHS beds increase every six hours.

NHS England yesterday (Thursday) confirmed a third coronavirus patient died at NGH in the space of four days. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Full list of 16 'critical' industries on Covid self isolation exemption list Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire's 'pingdemic' grows as 5,000-a-week are forced to self-isolate Northamptonshire Telegraph

The Women's Health Strategy: ensuring no women are left behind

The Women's Health Strategy: ensuring no women are left behind A call for evidence and an accompanying press statement for the first ever Women’s Health Strategy were released on International Women’s Day earlier this year. The strategy is a promising sign that the government is committed to finally addressing the difficulties women experience in accessing adequate health care and support in the UK. The King's Fund

Chart of the week: Are hospitals returning to pre-Covid activity levels?

Chart of the week: Are hospitals returning to pre-Covid activity levels? The latest guidance states that hospitals should aim to deliver at least 95% of the services they delivered before the pandemic, measured against the value of services delivered in the same month in 2019/20. But with rising numbers of Covid patients in hospital, Jenny Davies looks at how realistic this target is. Nuffield Trust 

Attitudes towards and experiences of the NHS during Covid-19: views from patients, professionals and the public

Attitudes towards and experiences of the NHS during Covid-19: views from patients, professionals and the public This report is the third and final report from a collaboration with Britain Thinks to understand how the experiences and perceptions of patients, professionals and the public have shifted during the pandemic and what this might mean for the future of the NHS in England. It looks at the NHS across three areas: primary care; secondary care; and community care. It also examines four patient types: mental health; long term health conditions; cancer patients; and surgery patients. Additionally, it looks into what patients and the public understand about the term 'health inequalities'. The Richmond Group of Charities

Improving communication between health care professionals and patients in the NHS in England

Improving communication between health care professionals and patients in the NHS in England This systematic review was undertaken by SQW. It aims to identify interventions that have previously demonstrated a positive difference to patient experience and clinical outcomes, while also reducing financial demands on the health system. The options identified needed to be interventions that policy makers, commissioners and service managers across the NHS could replicate accurately, with a reasonable return on their investment and at a manageable level of implementation risk. NHS England

Promotions of unhealthy foods restricted from October 2022

Promotions of unhealthy foods restricted from October 2022 Promotions on food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) in retailers will be restricted from October 2022, the government has confirmed. Department of Health and Social Care 

Public urged to continue protecting family and friends

Public urged to continue protecting family and friends New government campaign launches across England to remind public of importance of continuing healthy behaviours to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Statement to Parliament: Minister Zahawi update to the House on step 4 and NHS COVID Pass Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: REACT-2 study of coronavirus antibodies: June 2020 results Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid vaccine: Eight-week gap seen as sweet spot for Pfizer jab antibodies

Covid vaccine: Eight-week gap seen as sweet spot for Pfizer jab antibodies A longer gap between first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine makes the body's immune system produce more infection-fighting antibodies, UK researchers have found.

Experts say the findings support the UK's decision on extending dosing intervals from the initial recommendation of three weeks.

An eight-week gap seems to be the sweet spot for tackling the Delta variant. BBC News

See also: 

• Sustained T cell immunity, protection and boosting using extended dosing intervals of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (open access preprint) The Pitch Study
• Daily contact testing in schools cuts absences, study finds BBC News
• Covid cases at record levels for 20 to 29-year-olds  BBC News
• Covid: China rejects WHO plan for second phase of virus origin probe  BBC News
• Rapid COVID-19 tests could be as effective as PCR lab tests if enough people get tested The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: NHS symptom-tracking app's data U-turns and estimates 60,000 people are still falling ill The Daily Mail
• Covid pass could be compulsory for entry to large events in England – video The Guardian

Nottingham maternity scandal: 'The pain never goes away'

Nottingham maternity scandal: 'The pain never goes away' More than 20 families have told BBC News they want a completely independent inquiry into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust. We met some of those still shell-shocked by the trust's failings.

Parents urged to look out for RSV and other infections in children

Parents urged to look out for RSV and other infections in children Parents are being urged to look out for signs of severe respiratory infection in their children over the summer amid a rise in cases.

Hospitals are treating a growing number of children with illnesses usually only seen in winter after the levels of such cases fell during the pandemic, health officials in England have said. The Guardian

See also: 

• Health chiefs issue warning as childhood respiratory infections rise ahead of winter Public Health England
• Child winter respiratory illness on rise in summer BBC News
• Summer cold season is worse than ever after a year of masking and social distancing The Daily Mail

NHS trust fined over lack of honesty with family after mother’s death

NHS trust fined over lack of honesty with family after mother’s death An NHS trust has been fined twice by the care watchdog over a lack of honesty with a family following the death of a woman in childbirth.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust was issued with the fixed penalty fines by the Care Quality Commission after the trust failed to comply with the law around the NHS duty of candour. The Independent

NHS workers lose up to £9,000 per year during decade of real-terms pay cuts

NHS workers lose up to £9,000 per year during decade of real-terms pay cuts NHS workers in England have lost up to £9,000 a year during a decade of Conservative led real terms pay cuts, GMB analysis shows. 

Long-serving cleaners have had more than £1,000 pinched from their pay packet every year, 999 call handlers £3,500, nurses more than £6,000, midwives more than £7,500, the union’s calculations found. GMB Union

 

See also:

• NHS pay review announcement - key questions and guidance Department of Health and Social Care
• Pay is important, but it is not the only factor contributing to high staff turnover The King's Fund
• How can we suddenly afford a 3pc rise for the NHS? The Daily Telegraph
• 'Shameful and divisive' 3% pay rise threatens death-knell for GP partnerships GPonline
• Ministers force NHS England to cover part of 3% staff pay rise The Guardian
• NHS staff have lost thousands in real pay since 2011, studies find The Guardian
• Business secretary says 3% pay rise for NHS staff in England and Wales is fair – video The Guardian
• NHS told to find £1.5bn of savings to fund staff pay rise, despite fears of service cuts The Independent

Pleas to get jabbed grow more urgent after first Covid deaths since April at Northampton General Hospital

Pleas to get jabbed grow more urgent after first Covid deaths since April at Northampton General Hospital Health chiefs have launched a fresh plea to more than 60,000 Northampton adults who are yet to take up the offer for their first Covid-19 vaccination. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Pop-up Covid vaccine clinic in Corby town centre this weekend Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Health chiefs' plan with a van to deliver swabs on wheels as Covid-19 testing goes mobile in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Plea to "avoid A&E if you can" as pressures grow on Northamptonshire's hospitals

Plea to "avoid A&E if you can" as pressures grow on Northamptonshire's hospitals Hospital chiefs have warned people could be turned away from the county's Accident & Emergency departments if their condition is not life-threatening as pressure grows on NHS staff. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS staff to receive 3% pay rise

NHS staff to receive 3% pay rise NHS staff including nurses, paramedics, consultants, and dentists in England will receive a 3% pay rise backdated to April 2021 after the government accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) and the Review Body for Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration (DDRB). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Independent report: Senior Salaries Review Body Report: 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS pay offer is 'treading water' The Health Foundation
• Agenda for Change 2021/22 Pay Scales Nursing Notes
• NHS pay deal 'a bitter blow' to nursing staff in England and Wales Royal College of Nursing
• NHS workers in England offered 3% pay rise BBC News
• Nurses may consider industrial action over 3% NHS pay rise, union says BBC News
• NHS Pay: Government accepts recommendation and gives 3pc rise The Daily Telegraph
• The government’s ‘3% pay rise’ is a cut in real terms for nurses | Rachel Ambrose The Guardian
• For an NHS burnt out from Covid, praise without a raise means little The Guardian
• Threat of nurses’ strike over 3% pay award for NHS staff The Guardian
• NHS staff in England get pay rise of 3% after their contribution during 'unprecedented year' Sky News

How will we know integration of health and care services is working?

How will we know integration of health and care services is working? Listening to people and learning from their experiences offers the opportunity to change care for the better. Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England, explains why involving users will give a better, bigger picture of how integration is working. The King's Fund 

A wait on your mind? A realistic proposal for tackling the elective backlog

A wait on your mind? A realistic proposal for tackling the elective backlog The waiting list for elective treatment in the NHS in England has reached an unprecedented level. It is likely to become the defining NHS issue as we approach the next general election, and brings a very real human cost as millions endure a long and uncertain wait. So what can be done? Policy Exchange 

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis – national report for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Audit 2020/2021

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis – national report for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Audit 2020/2021 The National Clinical Audit of Psychosis aims to improve the quality of care that NHS mental health trusts provide to people with psychosis. This report provides national and organisation-level findings on the treatment of people by Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) teams in England, as well as the impact of Covid-19 on the services provided. Royal College of Psychiatrists 

The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities

The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities This report on the treatment and care of autistic people and those with learning disabilities has found that a lack of adequate community provision has led to many experiencing unnecessary admissions to and intolerable treatment in inpatient facilities. MPs describe the situation as a scandal, given it is happening ten years since the notorious case of Winterbourne View. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee 

NHS England proposes new mental health access standards

NHS England proposes new mental health access standards The NHS is set to take another major step towards improving patient access to mental health services with the introduction of five new waiting time guarantees, under plans set out today.

The proposals could ensure that patients requiring urgent care will be seen by community mental health crisis teams within 24 hours of referral, with the most urgent getting help within four hours. Mental health liaison services for those who end up in A&E departments would also be rolled out to remaining sites across the country. NHS England

See also: 

• Emergency mental health patients to get help within hour under NHS England plan The Guardian

Coronavirus: Worst affected care homes revealed by watchdog

Coronavirus: Worst affected care homes revealed by watchdog A breakdown of the numbers of people who died with Covid-19 for each care home in England has been published for the first time.

Overall, more than 39,000 care home residents died with the virus between 10 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. BBC News

See also: 

• CQC publishes data showing death notifications involving COVID-19 received from individual care homes Care Quality Commission
• How England is starting to IGNORE Test and Trace amid 'pingdemic' chaos The Daily Mail
• More than 1.8million Britons say they are suffering from 'long Covid', survey finds The Daily Mail
• Freedom Day could be watered down in weeks: SAGE tells Boris to prepare to roll back mask-wearing The Daily Mail
• England may have to reimpose Covid rules in August, scientists warn The Guardian

Eating disorders: Number of under-20s in hospital up 50%

Eating disorders: Number of under-20s in hospital up 50% The number of young people with eating disorders in England ending up in hospital has risen during the pandemic, a BBC investigation has found.

Data from NHS Digital showed the number of under-20s admitted over the past year topped 3,200 - nearly 50% higher than in 2019-20.

Hospitals are warning they are running out of beds to care for these patients. BBC News

See also: 

• 'She just wouldn't eat' BBC News

Watchdog warns 'exceptional' NHS pressure is affecting patient care

Watchdog warns 'exceptional' NHS pressure is affecting patient care The care watchdog has warned that “exceptional” pressures on the NHS is affecting the care of patients across England with healthcare workers pushed to the brink.

 

Professor Ted Baker, the Care Quality Commission’s chief inspector of hospitals has spoken out as ambulance services report record levels of 999 calls with patients waiting hours in the backs of ambulances outside hospitals. The Independent

Matt Hancock warned against power-grab as backlash builds against NHS shake-up plans

Matt Hancock warned against power-grab as backlash builds against NHS shake-up plans Matt Hancock is facing growing warnings against accumulating too much personal power in a planned shake-up of hospitals which is running into opposition from within the health service and from some Tory MPs. iNews

NHS confirms Covid death at Northamptonshire hospital as daily cases hit seven-month high

NHS confirms Covid death at Northamptonshire hospital as daily cases hit seven-month high NHS England has confirmed another Covid-related death among patients in Northamptonshire's hospitals. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Ten areas of Northamptonshire seeing rise in Covid-19 rates of up to 840 percent Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• The key workers who can avoid self-isolation when pinged by NHS Track and Trace Northamptonshire Telegraph

Is the data strategy a missed opportunity to build trust in how data is used?

Is the data strategy a missed opportunity to build trust in how data is used? After months of anticipation, in late June 2021, the government published the draft of its national data strategy. The document outlines how the government intends to use the vast range of data in the NHS and social care to improve health and care for patients and staffs. This could mean changes so that patients no longer need to repeat their histories to different staff and staff having all relevant information to hand, saving time and improving safety. The King's Fund

Fit for purpose? Addressing inequities in mental health research exacerbated by Covid-19

Fit for purpose? Addressing inequities in mental health research exacerbated by Covid-19 This report was produced on behalf of the Mental Health Research Group, an independent group of leaders in mental health in England. It highlights the inequities in mental health research funding and production, what gets investigated and who gets to contribute, as well as who and what is left out of the conversation. It shares examples of work taking place to address mental health inequalities and to challenge inequities of power and influence within mental health research. The report calls for systemic change in the ways mental health research is planned, funded and delivered in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Centre for Mental Health 

Medical staffing in England: a defining moment for doctors and patients

Medical staffing in England: a defining moment for doctors and patients This report shows how severe medical shortages in England have become, current workforce data trends analysis and how the government can combat the widening gap between medical staff supply and increasing patient need. This study of the number of doctors per 1,000 people revealed that England averaged 2.8 doctors across primary and secondary care, while the average ratio in comparable EU countries is 3.7. The BMA predicts almost 50,000 more doctors are required to make up for the shortfall and that it could take until 2046 for health services in England to catch up to the average of comparable European nations. British Medical Association

NHS workforce more diverse than any point in its history, as health service commits to more action on representation

NHS workforce more diverse than any point in its history, as health service commits to more action on representation A first of its kind report looking into race equality among England’s doctors has found that the number from black and ethnic minority backgrounds working for the NHS is the highest on record.

New data published as part of the inaugural Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) commissioned by NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens shows that last year more than 53,000 doctors working in the NHS were from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background, up by more than 9,000, a rise of around one-fifth, since 2017. NHS England 

Policy paper: National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026

Policy paper: National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026 The government’s national strategy for improving the lives of autistic people and their families and carers in England, and implementation plan for 2021 to 2022. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: What happens when people no longer have to wear masks?

Covid: What happens when people no longer have to wear masks? Masks and face coverings are no longer compulsory in most public places in England but the government is still recommending them in crowded places.

So what does the evidence show about the effect of masks and what happens when they're no longer compulsory? BBC News

 

See also: 

• Covid-19: Crucial for pinged people to self-isolate - No 10 BBC News
• Covid UK: Daily death toll hits 96 in highest daily figure since MARCH as hospitalisations rise The Daily Mail
• More than 1.5 MILLION children around the world lost a caregiver due to COVID-19, study finds The Daily Mail
• Nadine Dorries: Pregnant women not prioritised for vaccines because of male-dominated JCVI The Daily Telegraph
• No 10 rebuked for failure to list ‘critical workers’ exempt from quarantine The Guardian
• More than 1m pupils in England absent last week due to Covid The Guardian
• Just over a fifth of people have the NHS Covid app and are using it properly, poll finds The Independent

Non-surgical beauty treatment industry like Wild West - MPs

Non-surgical beauty treatment industry like Wild West - MPs The "complete absence" of regulation of non-surgical beauty treatments, such as botox-style injections and fillers, is dangerous and must urgently change, say MPs.

After a year-long review, they claim the government has left the industry to regulate itself, despite concerns regularly raised by many within the sector. BBC News

See also: 

• Inquiry into aesthetic non-surgical cosmetic treatments All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing

New NHS drug fund will fast track access to breakthrough treatments

New NHS drug fund will fast track access to breakthrough treatments A new drugs fund worth £340 million will be used by the NHS to fast track patients with rare diseases so they can get new medicine and treatments yet to be approved. The Independent

English coastal towns have some of country’s worst health, report says

English coastal towns have some of country’s worst health, report says Striking beaches and fresh sea air may make coastal towns some of England’s most desirable places – but their attractiveness hides some of the country’s poorest health outcomes, which leave many residents “old before their time,” according to a report by the country’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty. The Guardian

Northamptonshire NHS "running hot" with more staff off, more Covid cases and more people through the door

Northamptonshire NHS "running hot" with more staff off, more Covid cases and more people through the door Hospital chiefs say pressure is piling back on Northamptonshire's NHS as more Covid-19 patients are being admitted and staff are forced to self-isolate. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid rules STILL apply at Northampton General Hospital as virus continues to spread, say healthcare bosses
• KGH say 'no change' on masks and Covid measures on 'Freedom Day' Northamptonshire Telegraph

Data reveals impact of deadly asbestos-related cancer in Northampton as inquiry is launched

Data reveals impact of deadly asbestos-related cancer in Northampton as inquiry is launched Asbestos-related cancer has claimed the lives of more than 150 people in Northampton over almost four decades, new figures reveal.

MPs have launched an inquiry into how the material is being managed across the UK after serious safety concerns were raised. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

GP in charge of Earls Barton and Northampton surgeries removed over catalogue of failings

GP in charge of Earls Barton and Northampton surgeries removed over catalogue of failings Two Northamptonshire GP surgeries with 9,500 patients and a senior partner have been de-registered after inspectors found a "whole catalogue of issues" putting patients at risk. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Making sense of the Health and Care Bill

Making sense of the Health and Care Bill As the Health and Care Bill is debated in the House of Commons for the first time, some in government may still recall the bruising 14 months it took for the previous piece of health legislation to get through parliament. Back in 2011 and 2012 there were big claims on all sides, with the government insisting its reforms would ‘liberate the NHS’ while the opposition argued the reforms would end it. The government found itself mired in what became the most controversial piece of NHS legislation in more than two decades. The King's Fund

See also:

• Health and Care Bill factsheets Department of Health and Social Care
• Giving the Health Secretary more power over the NHS risks taking health care backwards The Health Foundation
• The Health and Care Bill must be amended to help make workforce shortages a thing of the past The Health Foundation
• The Health and Care Bill: a threat to the operational independence of the NHS? The King's Fund
• Will the new Health and Care Bill privatise the NHS? Nuffield Trust
• Second Reading of the Health and Care Bill Nuffield Trust
• Briefing: Health and Care Bill - Second Reading Royal College of Nursing 
• RCP reaction to the health and care bill Royal College of Physicians 
• RCPsych responds to the Health and Care Bill Royal College of Psychiatrists

Nursing Workforce Shortages: 21 Missed Warnings

Nursing Workforce Shortages: 21 Missed Warnings A new briefing from the RCN detailing the warnings around the increasing nursing workforce shortage from a range of stakeholders including think tanks, health sector organisations, and cross party parliamentary groups. Royal College of Nursing

Shared decision making: shared reality or insider jargon?

Shared decision making: shared reality or insider jargon? This report says shared decision making, when patients and doctors work together to decide treatment options, provides benefits to patients and the health service. But patients, and the professionals treating them, face many barriers in making it work in practice. The report makes recommendations on how to make shared decision making a reality. Patients Association

Covid-19: preparing for the future - looking ahead to winter 2021/22 and beyond

Covid-19: preparing for the future - looking ahead to winter 2021/22 and beyond This report warns that a mix of Covid-19, influenza, and the respiratory virus Respiratory Syncytial Virus, could push the NHS to breaking point this winter unless action is taken. The report urges policy makers and the NHS to prepare by expanding Covid-19 testing, increasing the speed and uptake of the Covid-19 vaccination, and strengthened financial and staffing support. The Academy of Medical Sciences

Fully vaccinated critical workers to be able to leave self-isolation in exceptional circumstances

Fully vaccinated critical workers to be able to leave self-isolation in exceptional circumstances Fully vaccinated critical workers to be able to leave self-isolation in exceptional circumstances under new plans to prevent serious disruption to vital public services. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statement on offering COVID-19 vaccines to at-risk young people Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people aged 12 to 17 years: JCVI statement Department of Health and Social Care
• Every adult in UK offered COVID-19 vaccine Department of Health and Social Care
• Consultation outcome: Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• New research into treatment and diagnosis of long COVID Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Which children can have the vaccine in the UK?

Covid: Which children can have the vaccine in the UK? Hundreds of thousands of under-18s will now be offered the Covid vaccine in the UK.

They'll get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as that's the only one which has been approved for 12 to 17-year-olds - so far.

However, the news means that most children still aren't eligible for the jab - in keeping with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). BBC News

See also: 

• Shielders 'feeling abandoned' as coronavirus restrictions lifted BBC News
• Covid patients urge public to 'be careful' as restrictions ease BBC News
• Covid: Critical workers to avoid close contact isolation BBC News
• Covid: UK faces a difficult summer, says leading scientist BBC News
• Covid: Coping with opening-up anxiety BBC News
• Covid: Boris Johnson resisted autumn lockdown as only over-80s dying - Dominic Cummings BBC News
• Some COVID-19 patients may not regain sense of smell for as long as THREE YEARS, expert claims The Daily Mail
• Freedom Day will cause 'mad' spike in Covid cases, scientists fear The Daily Mail
• State Department tells Americans not to travel to the UK The Daily Telegraph
• Third of close contacts told to self-isolate by test and trace developing symptoms - up from one fifth The Daily Telegraph
• I work in an NHS Covid ward – and I feel so angry The Guardian
• Ministers shelve plans to fix Covid app as cases in England surge The Guardian
• Lockdowns do not harm health more than Covid, say researchers The Guardian
• NHS summer crisis deepens as Covid surge leads to cancelled operations and ambulance ‘black alert’

UK plans biggest flu vaccine rollout this winter

UK plans biggest flu vaccine rollout this winter Free flu vaccines will be offered this winter to children aged two to 16 in England, as well as people aged 50 and over or in "at-risk" groups, amid the double threat of Covid and influenza.

Experts hope for a record-breaking rollout reaching more than 35 million people, including more teenagers than ever before.

Last winter there was a high uptake, with 19 million doses given. BBC News

NHS staff in England set to be offered 3% pay rise

NHS staff in England set to be offered 3% pay rise The government is likely to announce a pay rise of 3 per cent for NHS staff in the coming days, triple its original offer earlier this year.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) originally told the independent NHS Pay Review Body in March it could only afford a 1 per cent pay rise this year for doctors, nurses and other NHS workers. The Independent

See also: 

• NHS staff 'set to get 3 per cent pay rise' THIS WEEK after medics threatened to go on strike if the Government failed to improve its 1 per cent offer The Daily Mail
• NHS staff in England could be offered 3% pay rise The Guardian
• NHS pay row: doctors and nurses could start being mobilised for strike action this week iNews

NHS is failing half of young people with mental health issues

NHS is failing half of young people with mental health issues Parents report that even suicidal youngsters are not being referred or supported by care professionals

Up to half of all children and teenagers referred to mental health, learning disability and autism services in the run-up to the pandemic were left without proper support, with parents telling the Observer of children waiting years for treatment and a seven-year-old girl denied support as she was not suicidal. The Guardian 

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Last big push to get jabs into Northamptonshire's final 135000 in countdown to Freedom Day

Last big push to get jabs into Northamptonshire's final 135000 in countdown to Freedom Day Northamptonshire will get more grab a jab sessions in a final massive push to deliver as many vaccinations as possible before Freedom Day.

An appeal has gone out for extra volunteers to help NHS staff deliver jabs at centres across the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• One in five Northamptonshire folk likely to NOT be vaccinated by Freedom Day Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering General: Hospital warned to improve over falls concerns

Kettering General: Hospital warned to improve over falls concerns Medical care at a hospital has been downgraded to inadequate after concerns were raised about patient falls.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited Kettering General Hospital in May, after "several serious incidents resulting in harm".

The NHS trust was rated overall as "requires improvement" - and issued with a warning notice. BBC News

Who will be the next NHS England Chief Executive?

Who will be the next NHS England Chief Executive? In truth, I struggled to get started with this blog. I’m not sure why as it wasn’t for a lack of ideas about leadership or what qualities the new leader of NHS England should hold. Perhaps it felt like a colossal task to try to articulate in a few hundred words what it is that a leader should embody, and the impact this would have on those they lead. Something that is difficult to express in writing but easier to feel and experience. The King's Fund

Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: the Covid-19 impact inquiry report

Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: the Covid-19 impact inquiry report This report is a comprehensive review of the factors that fuelled the UK’s Covid-19 death toll. It finds working age adults in England’s poorest areas were almost four times more likely to die from Covid-19 than those in the wealthiest areas. The Health Foundation calls on government to learn the lessons from the financial crisis and invest in health, to rebuild the economy and prevent long-term scarring. The Health Foundation

National representative data on the health of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in England published for the first time

National representative data on the health of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in England published for the first time A first of its kind report has been published today by NHS Digital on the health outcomes and health behaviours of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults.

The data is based on a representative sample of adults aged 16 and over who participated in the Health Survey for England (HSE)1 between 2011–2018. Breakdowns by age, ethnicity and sex are also covered in the report.  

See also:

• LGB people 'more likely to have mental health issues' BBC News
• LGB Brits drink more, smoke more and have worse mental health, says NHS report Pink News

Health and Care Bill introduced to Parliament

Health and Care Bill introduced to Parliament The Health and Care Bill builds on the proposals for legislative change set out by NHS England in its Long Term Plan, while also incorporating valuable lessons learnt from the pandemic that will benefit both staff and patients.

The government is committed to delivering world-class care for patients and this Bill will help deliver that by building on the NHS’ own proposals for reform to make it less bureaucratic, more accountable, and more integrated in the wake of COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Health and Care Bill: delegated powers memorandum Department of Health and Social Care
• Giving the Health Secretary more power over the NHS risks taking health care backwards The Health Foundation
• 'Important reforms could be undermined by plans for ministerial interference' The King's Fund
• On the day briefing: Health and Care Bill NHS Providers
• The proposed NHS reforms: what do we think so far? NHS Confederation
• Bill signals way forward in fast changing health and care landscape NHS Providers
• Nuffield Trust response to Health and Care Bill Nuffield Trust
• Health and Care Bill: we’ll lobby to make ministers accountable for safe nurse staffing Royal College of Nursing
• RCPsych responds to the Health and Care Bill Royal College of Psychiatrists 
• Health bill could see NHS contracts awarded without tender process The Guardian
• First major NHS legislation in nine years confirms DHSC power grab Health Service Journal
• Ministers press ahead with plan to have more control over NHS The Independent

Self-isolation to be eased for fully vaccinated adults in step 4

Self-isolation to be eased for fully vaccinated adults in step 4 From 16 August, double jabbed individuals and under 18s will no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Update to Parliament on self-isolation rules Department of Health and Social Care
• Statement to Parliament: Update on the pandemic and the roadmap to freedom Department of Health and Social Care

Government must clearly communicate Covid rule changes, say psychologists

Government must clearly communicate Covid rule changes, say psychologists If the public is to feel confident about the easing of Covid rules, then governments must explain clearly why the restrictions are no longer necessary, psychologists have said.

Using nuanced language, acknowledging uncertainty and being empathetic are important, their research suggested. BBC News

See also:

• Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines work against 'more lethal and infectious' Lambda variant The Daily Mail
• Survivors of severe COVID-19 are twice as likely to be hospitalized with another condition The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid hospital admissions breach 400 for first time since MARCH The Daily Mail
• Care home deaths fall to lowest level since Covid pandemic began, weekly figures show The Daily Mail
• Why ministers stuck to 19 July for lifting England’s Covid rules The Guardian
• What are the risks of England unlocking in the Covid third wave? The Guardian
• Data predicts 2m UK summer Covid cases with 10m isolating The Guardian
• Lambda variant: What is the new strain of Covid detected in the UK? The Independent
• What are the Covid-19 symptoms for people who are fully vaccinated? The Independent
• Covid cases surge after lockdown rules ease could still put pressure on NHS, says Neil Ferguson iNews

NHS backlog is 'shocking', says Sajid Javid, as he commits to tackling waiting lists

NHS backlog is 'shocking', says Sajid Javid, as he commits to tackling waiting lists The scale of the NHS backlog is “shocking” Sajid Javid, the new Health Secretary, has said, as he warned “I can’t just be thinking about Covid alone”. The Daily Telegraph

Over 160,000 Brits left in agony needing joint replacements saw surgery delayed because of Covid

Over 160,000 Brits left in agony needing joint replacements saw surgery delayed because of Covid At least 160,000 hip and knee replacement operations have been delayed because of Covid, researchers say.

Bristol University academics fear it may take the NHS more than 10 years to clear the coronavirus-fuelled backlog. 

In order to get a grip on the crisis, they say special operating centres running seven days a week are needed. Health chiefs should also consider asking retired surgeons to help. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on hip and knee joint replacement surgery in 2020 as demonstrated by data from the NJR ISSUU

Here's where Covid infections are rising fastest in Northamptonshire as ‘Freedom Day’ approaches

Here's where Covid infections are rising fastest in Northamptonshire as ‘Freedom Day’ approaches Areas in and around Northampton, Daventry, Wellingborough where infection rates have risen by up to 1,000 percent in a week. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Three St Andrew's Hospital patients to feature in documentary to raise awareness of mental health

Three St Andrew's Hospital patients to feature in documentary to raise awareness of mental health Three Northampton hospital patients will feature in a documentary to raise awareness of mental health and to help quash the stigma associated with it.

‘I’m Not Mad, I’m Me’ follows Kayleigh, Charlie and Jo as they prepare to leave St Andrew’s Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Kettering General Hospital NHS FT commences major records digitisation

Kettering General Hospital NHS FT commences major records digitisation Kettering General Hospital has embarked on a major medical records digitisation project with partners System C, IMMJ Systems and SPS that will see more than 220,000 medical records securely scanned into the IMMJ Systems MediViewer™ Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). National Health Executive

Expansion of clinics at Brackley's new medical centre provides services on patients' doorstep

Expansion of clinics at Brackley's new medical centre provides services on patients' doorstep Travelling to Banbury, Oxford or Northampton will be less likely for some Brackley patients with the expansion of outpatient clinics at the town's new medical centre. Banbury Guardian 

‘Blame culture’ in maternity safety failures prevents lessons being learnt

‘Blame culture’ in maternity safety failures prevents lessons being learnt A wide-ranging report by the Health and Social Care Committee on maternity safety in England finds that improvements in maternity services have been too slow, with the CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals reporting evidence of a ‘defensive culture’, ‘dysfunctional teams’ and ‘safety lessons not learned’. Professor Ted Baker told the inquiry that more than a third of CQC ratings for maternity services identified requirements to improve safety, larger than in any other specialty. MPs recommend urgent action to address staffing shortfalls in maternity services, with staffing numbers identified as the first and foremost essential building block in providing safe care. 

See also:

• Culture of blame holding back maternity safety, report finds BBC News
• ‘A cascade of catastrophic failings’: the UK’s baby death scandals The Guardian
• MPs say 1,000 babies die preventable deaths in England each year The Guardian
• Ministers must invest £350m to make maternity units safe, MPs say The Independent
• Maternity services in England need urgent improvement and at least £200m more to reduce unnecessary deaths, says MPs' report Sky News

Government pledges £2.45 million to improve childbirth care

Government pledges £2.45 million to improve childbirth care  Maternity safety minister Nadine Dorries has announced £2.45 million funding which will benefit NHS maternity staff and improve the safety of the women and babies they care for. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Most rules set to end in England, says PM

Covid: Most rules set to end in England, says PM Face masks will no longer be legally required and distancing rules will be scrapped at the final stage of England's Covid lockdown roadmap, Boris Johnson has confirmed.

The rule of six inside private homes will be removed and work-from-home guidance abolished as 16 months of on-off restrictions on daily life end.

The PM said he expected the final step would go ahead as planned on 19 July. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Fully jabbed people to be treated differently - Javid BBC News
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces 'five point plan for living with Covid' BBC News
• Covid: Johnson, Whitty and Vallance on when they'll still wear face masks BBC News
• Covid-19: New rules for schools in England to be set out BBC News
• Covid-19: 'For us it's not freedom day, is it?' BBC News
• Covid: What's the roadmap for lifting lockdown? BBC News
• Covid: Why is social distancing coming to an end? BBC News
• Coronavirus: When can we stop wearing face masks or coverings? BBC News
• What next for the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app? BBC News
• So just how long will your jab protect you from Covid? The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: 27,334 new daily cases and nine deaths as infections rise 20% in a week The Daily Mail
• Daily cases could hit 50000 by July 19 but Britain can start to live with Covid, says Sajid Javid The Daily Telegraph
• Lifting Covid rules in England: what has Boris Johnson announced? The Guardian
• Chris Whitty: keeping Covid restrictions will only delay wave The Guardian

Blood test to spot pancreatic cancer could be available within months

Blood test to spot pancreatic cancer could be available within months A test that spots pancreatic cancer from a single drop of blood could improve survival rates. The first blood test for early diagnosis of the hard-to-spot disease, it could be available within months.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of the common cancers, with 7.3 per cent of patients alive five years after diagnosis, compared to 58.4 per cent of bowel cancer patients and 85 per cent of breast cancer patients. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire's new Covid cases have doubled in a week

Northamptonshire's new Covid cases have doubled in a week Health chiefs say Covid cases are "escalating quite quickly" after seeing new positive tests DOUBLE in a week in Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Face masks and social distancing measures in England set to end on 19 July, new reports suggest Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Boris Johnson to axe face mask laws and confirm July 19 end to Covid rules Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Face masks and social distancing could stay for next 5 years under Covid winter plan Northamptonshire Telegraph

St Andrew's Healthcare defends policies after carer kissed and sent explicit messages to Northampton mental health patient

St Andrew's Healthcare defends policies after carer kissed and sent explicit messages to Northampton mental health patient St Andrew's Healthcare has defended its policies after a former carer was sentenced for kissing and sending explicit messages to a mental health patient at its Northampton hospital.

Adam White, 32, of Woodside Green, was a given a 30-month community order at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday (June 30) after previously pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with the female patient. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Tackling obesity: the role of the NHS in a whole-system approach

Tackling obesity: the role of the NHS in a whole-system approach Rates of obesity in England are high and rising, with a strong systemic relationship between obesity and deprivation. Rates are also higher in women than in men, and in some ethnic minority groups compared to the white British group. 

Recent governments have taken a fragmented approach to tackling obesity, and while some individual policies have been successful, this approach has fallen short of the cross-cutting population health approach that is needed. This briefing explores the role of the NHS in tackling obesity, focusing on how the NHS can work with local partners and engage with communities to deliver targeted interventions to treat and prevent obesity. The King's Fund 

A missed opportunity: BMA response to the Race Report

A missed opportunity: BMA response to the Race Report In its response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities’ (CRED race) report, the BMA refutes the report’s overall findings. The BMA's report highlights structural race inequality as a major factor affecting the outcomes and life chances of many ethnic minority health care workers. British Medical Association 

Working well: How the pandemic changed work for people with health conditions

Working well: How the pandemic changed work for people with health conditions This research from the Centre for Aging Better, 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 age is to rise further. 

Prime Minister to set out plans ahead of step 4

Prime Minister to set out plans ahead of step 4 The Prime Minister will host a press conference this afternoon (Monday 5th July) to set out plans for the final step of the Roadmap in England, giving businesses and the public more time to prepare.

The Health and Social Care Secretary will announce the plans to Parliament. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

See also: 

• Health Secretary opinion piece in the Mail on Sunday Department of Health and Social Care
• UK exceeds 600,000 COVID-19 tests genomically sequenced Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: Compelling health argument for easing lockdown - Javid

Covid-19: Compelling health argument for easing lockdown - Javid England will move into a period without legal restrictions where the public will have to exercise "personal responsibility" including on face masks, the housing secretary has said.

Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Andrew Marr people would "come to different conclusions" over masks, but he trusted people "to exercise good judgement". BBC News

See also:

• Boris Johnson to set out England's final Covid lockdown easing BBC News
• Covid: Keep some restrictions after 19 July, BMA doctors say BBC News
• Covid: Infections rising, but vaccines saving lives BBC News
• Why you shouldn't get a second Covid jab too early BBC News
• UK's daily Covid cases spike 70% in a week to 27,125 as deaths and hospital admissions tick upwards The Daily Mail
• Revealed: Boris Johnson’s five-point plan to end schools chaos The Daily Telegraph
• Politics trumps Covid science in Javid’s push to ‘live with the virus’ The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Delta variant cases in UK rise four-fold in less than a month The Independent

Thousands of patients hit by NHS data breaches

Thousands of patients hit by NHS data breaches The private data of thousands of NHS patients has been wrongly shared with strangers, including a case where a person’s HIV status was released, The Independent has learned.

In one example, strangers turned up at a woman’s door to let her know her private details, including her home address, had been mistakenly sent to other patients.

Johnson to announce controversial plans for greater NHS control

Johnson to announce controversial plans for greater NHS control Boris Johnson is set to spark a political row this week by announcing plans to seize greater control of the NHS, despite warnings that the “power grab” will see ministers blamed for delays in treatment and closure of local hospital units.

The prime minister has told the new health secretary, Sajid Javid, to put the long-awaited health and care bill before parliament despite Javid’s own misgivings and concerns among hospital bosses and doctors’ leaders. The Guardian

Number of NHS mental health beds down by 25% since 2010, analysis shows

Number of NHS mental health beds down by 25% since 2010, analysis shows The number of beds in NHS mental health hospitals has fallen by a quarter since 2010, forcing more patients who are seriously ill to be taken far away from home in order to receive treatment, Labour has revealed.

Its analysis of official figures shows that the NHS in England now has almost 6,000 fewer beds for people with conditions such as schizophrenia or eating and personality disorders. There were 23,447 consultant-led mental health beds in 2010-11 and 17,610 in 2020-21, a reduction of 5,837 (25%). The Guardian