The hi-tech hospitals transforming patient care

The hi-tech hospitals transforming patient care Forty new hospitals, greater use of cutting-edge technology and a digital revolution that will benefit NHS staff and patients.

That’s what is being promised under the Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan, a £3.7 billion project unveiled at the end of 2020 to drag Britain’s crumbling hospital network into the 21st century. The Daily Mail

No more pingdemic from TODAY for 450,000 double-jabbed Northamptonshire adults

No more pingdemic from TODAY for 450,000 double-jabbed Northamptonshire adults The latest step on the roadmap out of lockdown means anybody who has had two Covid-19 jabs will not be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive.

Latest NHS England figures showed more than 4,000 people county-wide were 'pinged' by NHS Test and Trace in the week up to August 4. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Self-isolation rules change from today: this is what you need to know Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• More than 150 fewer people "pinged" by Covid app in Northampton  Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Rise in visits to A&E at Northampton General Hospital

Rise in visits to A&E at Northampton General Hospital More patients visited A&E at Northampton General Hospital last month, with demand rising above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 11,935 patients visited A&E at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust in July. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northampton care leaver helps tackle period poverty with new project

Northampton care leaver helps tackle period poverty with new project A care leaver who has "first-hand" experience of period poverty has helped launch a project handing out free sanitary products.

Louise, from Northampton, was inspired to set up the Jeevan Project that gives away products to young women leaving care in the town. BBC Northampton 

Chart of the week: How has the risk of acquiring Covid-19 in hospital changed in the last year?

Chart of the week: How has the risk of acquiring Covid-19 in hospital changed in the last year? Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. Back in November, Sarah Scobie revealed the rise in the proportion of patients in hospital who had acquired Covid-19 after being admitted. This week she revisits the topic to see if things have changed since, and debates the possible reasons why. Nuffield Trust 

NHS chief urges people to come forward for life saving cancer checks ahead of new campaign

NHS chief urges people to come forward for life saving cancer checks ahead of new campaign The new head of the NHS in England has today encouraged people with potential cancer symptoms to come forward for lifesaving checks.

Ahead of a new campaign launching next week, NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard said that the NHS is open and ready to treat people, and urged anyone with potential cancer symptoms to come forward.

Research shows that three in five people (60%) are concerned about burdening the NHS, with half (49%) saying they would delay seeking medical advice compared to before the pandemic. NHS England 

Model of oral healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees: how to support access to NHS dentists

Model of oral healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees: how to support access to NHS dentists Asylum seekers and refugees can face barriers when accessing NHS dentists. This model of care details the processes, rights and entitlements to care and includes supporting information and links to forms and guidance. It is designed for local authorities, support services and health professionals who work with asylum seekers and refugees. Public Health England 

All young people aged 16 and 17 in England to be offered vaccine by next week

All young people aged 16 and 17 in England to be offered vaccine by next week All young people aged 16 to 17 in England are to be offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday 23 August to give them protection before returning to school. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: Self-isolation ends for double-jabbed and under-18s

Covid: Self-isolation ends for double-jabbed and under-18s People in England and Northern Ireland who have had two Covid vaccine doses will no longer have to isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

Instead of having to quarantine for 10 days, they are now advised to take a PCR test - but this is not compulsory.

They are also advised to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and to limit contact with others, especially the clinically vulnerable. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: 16 and 17-year-olds in England to be offered jab by 23 August BBC News
• Covid: Carrie Johnson urges pregnant women to get vaccinated BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Parents upset at jabs wait for high-risk children BBC News
• Covid: Record your cough to help improve detection, says government BBC News
• New Covid variants ‘will set us back a year’, experts warn UK government The Guardian
• Is long Covid real? And if so, could it be a bigger public-health problem than excess deaths from Covid-19 The Independent
• Covid: People pinged by NHS app 'four times more likely' to have coronavirus, study finds ITV News

Crumbling NHS hospital assessed corporate manslaughter risk

Crumbling NHS hospital assessed corporate manslaughter risk An NHS hospital commissioned a report into the risk of corporate manslaughter charges should a fatal roof collapse occur, leaked documents reveal.

West Suffolk Hospital is spending tens of millions of pounds making dangerous reinforced concrete planks in its main building safe.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital, which is of similar design, has set a weight limit on patients at two of its theatres. BBC News

NHS summer crisis: Hospital suspends all inpatient surgery for three weeks over bed shortages

NHS summer crisis: Hospital suspends all inpatient surgery for three weeks over bed shortages All routine inpatient surgery at a hospital in Yorkshire is to be suspended from Monday to help the hospital trust cope with overcrowding in A&E caused by a lack of beds.

Bosses at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust told staff in an email, shared with The Independent, that they had been forced to make the decision because of the lack of beds for waiting patients.

‘I can’t work’: the mothers left to fight alone for their children’s mental health care

‘I can’t work’: the mothers left to fight alone for their children’s mental health care Three parents forced to give up their lives and careers to get help for their severely ill children tell their stories. The Guardian

Councils seek funds to fight rise in children’s type 2 diabetes in England and Wales

Councils seek funds to fight rise in children’s type 2 diabetes in England and Wales Councils are calling for more support to meet the government’s target of halving childhood obesity after recording an “extremely worrying” 60% increase in young people with type 2 diabetes in paediatric units over five years in England and Wales.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is urging ministers to step up investment in councils’ public health budgets in the upcoming spending review to fund efforts to reduce childhood obesity, which is understood to be the main cause of the increase in type 2 diabetes. The Guardian

See also: 

• Obesity crisis: Treatment for Type 2 diabetes in children up by nearly 60 per cent in five years Local Government Association

Nearly one million people in England became addicted to alcohol during the pandemic

Nearly one million people in England became addicted to alcohol during the pandemic Nearly one million people in England became addicted to alcohol as a result of Covid lockdowns, official data suggests.

Government polling before the pandemic estimated 1.5million adults drank at least 50 units every week — the equivalent of three pints or nearly a bottle of wine every night.

But this jumped to just shy of 2.5million this summer, which experts have blamed on the endless cycle of virus-controlling restrictions. The Daily Mail 

Feedburner email subscriptions coming to an end...

We currently use Feedburner to bring you email subscriptions to our health news service. Unfortunately Google has decided to withdraw this functionality from Feedburner, meaning we will not be able to send you daily emails of health news stories.

We are currently looking for alternatives to Feedburner to continue to provide the service by email.

In the mean time, when the email subscription service does come to an end, you will still be able to access our news service via the blog page here: http://nhftlibrariesdailyhealthnews.blogspot.com/.

You can also subscribe to our RSS feed 

When we manage to find a alternative way of delivering the service by email we will automatically add our current subscribers, but do please get in contact if you do not want to continue to receive communications from us.

In the mean time we wanted to warn you as Google have not said when this service will come to an end and you may stop receiving emails from us abruptly.

Regards

The Library Team

Northamptonshire neighbourhoods turning down Covid jabs as seven more die with virus in NGH and KGH

Northamptonshire neighbourhoods turning down Covid jabs as seven more die with virus in NGH and KGH Infection control teams confirm "significant number" .of virus patients have not been vaccinated.

Two Northamptonshire neighbourhoods are in the bottom ten out of more than 570 in the East Midlands with the lowest vaccine take-up. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Kettering General Hospital aims to double army of volunteers

Kettering General Hospital aims to double army of volunteers Kettering General Hospital aims to double its volunteer workforce and develop a wide range of exciting new posts for people of all ages over the next few months. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Only half of Northamptonshire GP appointments held in person in June 2021, data reveals

Only half of Northamptonshire GP appointments held in person in June 2021, data reveals Only half of GP appointments in Northamptonshire were held face-to-face after major steps to ease coronavirus restrictions went ahead, figures reveal. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS performance summary: June-July 2021

NHS performance summary: June-July 2021 NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for June and July of this year. Here we show some of these statistics and how they compare with previous trends. Nuffield Trust

See also: 

• Figures highlight difficult juggling act facing the NHS as COVID cases remain high The Health Foundation
• The waiting list stands at 5.4 million The King's Fund
• Covid and backlog pressure on NHS causing alarming situation in emergency care Nuffield Trust

What has the Covid-19 pandemic taught us about public health messaging?

What has the Covid-19 pandemic taught us about public health messaging? I joined The King’s Fund in 2020, coming from an academic background in a university department where I worked on research about how to encourage people to adopt healthy behaviours. With the Covid-19 pandemic in full swing, I saw several familiar faces from academia appearing in national media sharing and explaining public health messages. Academic researchers are rarely so visible, but during the pandemic they were in demand as the public face of the race to minimise the impact of Covid 19.

It made me wonder how academic health researchers could have more direct influence on public health in future. The King's Fund 

Seven in ten young people aged 18 to 29 vaccinated with a first dose

Seven in ten young people aged 18 to 29 vaccinated with a first dose Over 70% of young people aged 18 to 29 in England have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures show, providing vital protection against infection and serious illness from the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season Public Health England

Huge gulf in hospitals' ability to contain Covid

Huge gulf in hospitals' ability to contain Covid A major analysis of the spread of Covid within hospitals has shown a massive gulf in ability to contain the virus during the first wave.

Overall, more than one in 10 people in hospital with Covid actually caught the virus while they were there.

But the analysis of 314 UK hospitals showed that ranged from just one in 100 cases caught in hospital, to more than one in four. BBC News

See also: 

• Hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK's first COVID-19 pandemic wave (open access) The Lancet
• Covid booster: US approves third jab for the immunocompromised BBC News
• Moderna's Covid vaccine DOES protect against Indian 'Delta' variant The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases jump by 10% in a week to 33,074 The Daily Mail
• Britons should get a different Covid vaccine as their booster, SAGE adviser says The Daily Mail
• One in 10 UK patients caught Covid in hospital in first wave, finds study The Guardian
• Covid to ‘rip’ through schools unless safety measures brought in immediately, ministers warned The Independent

Diabetes ‘wakeup call’ as 1,500 children in England have type 2

Diabetes ‘wakeup call’ as 1,500 children in England have type 2 Charity says government must do more to tackle childhood obesity with one in three now overweight

Hundreds of children and teenagers in England have type 2 diabetes, data shows, with charities describing the findings as a “worrying wakeup call” and urging that childhood obesity be tackled.

Type 2 diabetes is historically only seen in people over the age of 40, but data for 2019-20 revealed that the condition now affects 1,560 people aged 18 or under. The Guardian 

Sajid Javid warns NHS waiting list will keep rising after hitting a record 5.45MILLION last month

Sajid Javid warns NHS waiting list will keep rising after hitting a record 5.45MILLION last month England's record-high NHS waiting list will only continue to rise in the wake of the Covid crisis, the Health Secretary warned today.

Sajid Javid said at least 7million people who 'ordinarily would have come forward' for medical treatment stayed away during the pandemic.

Health chiefs now want those patients to 'come back' but accept it will cause a huge increase in demand that will cause waiting lists to rise. The Daily Mail

 

See also:

• Sajid Javid says NHS waiting lists will rise BBC News

Record 1 million 999 calls made to NHS in July

Record 1 million 999 calls made to NHS in July More than a million 999 calls were made to ambulance services in July – the highest number ever recorded – as the NHS battles a summer crisis in patient demand.

The latest data shows major A&E departments saw their second-highest ever numbers of patients in July, while paramedics were sent out to 82,000 emergencies last month, 8,000 more than the record set in June. The Independent 

After the dust settles: some overlooked and underappreciated aspects of the NHS pay settlement

After the dust settles: some overlooked and underappreciated aspects of the NHS pay settlement The recent NHS pay settlement in England alluded to the importance of recognising the extraordinary efforts of health service staff during the Covid-19 crisis. But how well does the settlement actually reflect the pandemic? Billy Palmer takes a closer look at what was agreed, what it might mean for staff pay packets in the NHS, and how it might affect pay inequalities. Nuffield Trust 

Covid-19 Loneliness Fund: a process evaluation

Covid-19 Loneliness Fund: a process evaluation The £5m Loneliness Covid-19 Fund was launched in May 2020 to support nine national organisations working to tackle loneliness and build social connections to help them to continue and adapt their critical work during the pandemic. The National Centre for Social Research was appointed as evaluator for this fund. This report presents the results of a process evaluation of the fund, to see how it supported the delivery and adaption of services aimed at addressing loneliness during Covid-19 restrictions. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

Wider impacts of Covid-19 on physical activity, deconditioning and falls in older adults

Wider impacts of Covid-19 on physical activity, deconditioning and falls in older adults This report looks at how the wider impacts of Covid-19 have affected older people (65 years and over), with a focus upon deconditioning and falls. Estimates of these impacts on physical activity levels and rates of falls in older people are provided. The report also summarises recommendations aimed at mitigating these impacts and to improve older adult mental and physical health. The technical appendix provides detailed information on the methods that have been used in the study. Public Health England 

• 
  

Self-isolation removed for double jabbed close contacts from 16 August

Self-isolation removed for double jabbed close contacts from 16 August Adults and children will be free to return to work, attend school, and meet friends and family as the protection from vaccines replaces the need for contact isolation from Monday. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• COVID-19 study finds lower prevalence in schools Public Health England

Covid vaccine: Fertility and miscarriage claims fact-checked

Covid vaccine: Fertility and miscarriage claims fact-checked False and misleading claims that Covid-19 vaccines harm fertility and cause miscarriages are still circulating online, against all the evidence.

Doctors are extremely cautious about what they recommend during pregnancy, so the original advice was to avoid the jab.

But now, so much safety data has become available that this advice has changed and the vaccine is now actively encouraged (as getting Covid itself can put a pregnancy at risk).

We have looked at some of the more persistent claims - and why they are wrong. BBC News

See also:

• Using lockdowns to control spread of Covid in future won't be justified, SAGE adviser says The Daily Mail
• Nearly 90% of cancer patients had high antibody levels 4 months after getting second vaccine dose The Daily Mail
• Only most vulnerable may need Covid booster jab in UK, expert says The Guardian
• UK orders extra Covid vaccines for autumn 2022 booster campaign The Guardian
• No cases of vaccine-induced clotting reported in last month, experts say The Independent

Almost 1.2m people waiting at least six months for vital NHS services in England

Almost 1.2m people waiting at least six months for vital NHS services in England Almost 1.2 million people in England are waiting more than six months for essential NHS services such as brain surgery and eye treatment because of the Covid backlog, analysis shows.

The May 2021 figure is almost five times that recorded in the same period in 2019 , before the pandemic hit, and also includes patients requiring gynaecological services. The Guardian

See also:

• Life waiting for vital NHS treatment: ‘The pain and anguish are too much’ The Guardian
• NHS summer crisis: Hospitals declare ‘black alerts’ as more operations are cancelled The Independent

Breast cancer drug approved for NHS after maker agrees discount

Breast cancer drug approved for NHS after maker agrees discount Reversal of earlier rejection by Nice of abemaciclib – known as Verzenios – is welcomed by campaigners

A breast cancer drug that was rejected for routine NHS use in England earlier this year has now been recommended by health officials after a discount was agreed with the manufacturer. The Guardian

NHS blood tests hit by disruption in tube supply chain expected to last for weeks

NHS blood tests hit by disruption in tube supply chain expected to last for weeks NHS patients could be affected by disruption in the global supply chain of tubes used in blood tests as doctors have been told to limit the number of tests they can carry out, it has emerged.

New guidance from NHS England has been issued amid a global shortage of blood tube products, although the health service has insisted that all clinically necessary blood tests will go ahead. The Independent 

See also:

• Becton Dickinson Blood Specimen Collection Portfolio supply disruption NHS England

Abuse of disabled patients forces watchdog to close hospital

Abuse of disabled patients forces watchdog to close hospital A mental health hospital has been closed by the care watchdog after inspectors saw evidence of patients being abused.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has forced the closure of Eldertree Lodge, in Staffordshire, which looked after more than 40 adults with learning disabilities and autism. The Independent

Man convicted for calling NHS 111 more than a thousand times 'for his own enjoyment'

Man convicted for calling NHS 111 more than a thousand times 'for his own enjoyment' A Worthing man has pleaded guilty to making more than a thousand nuisance calls to an NHS advice line for his own 'enjoyment and personal benefit', costing the taxpayer more that £20,000. ITV News

Nearly half of under-30s in Northampton still not vaccinated against Covid-19

Nearly half of under-30s in Northampton still not vaccinated against Covid-19 Nearly half of under-30s in Northampton have yet to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, figures suggest – weeks after they were invited to get their first jab. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid booster jabs will rollout to priority groups next month - who is eligible? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby Novavax trial 'guinea pig' stuck in UK as vaccine passport not yet valid Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton doctors' surgery taken out of special measures for 'significant improvements to quality of care'

Northampton doctors' surgery taken out of special measures for 'significant improvements to quality of care' Maple Access Surgery in Northampton has been taken out of special measures after making significant improvements to its quality of care, according to the care watchdog. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

The mental health workforce: challenges facing the NHS

The mental health workforce: challenges facing the NHS Demand for mental health services is increasing in England, particularly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the NHS mental health workforce is struggling to meet the demand for care. Lucina Rolewicz looks at workforce numbers and considers how the NHS can make mental health careers more accessible and attractive. Nuffield Trust 

BMA urges public to be kind as survey reveals worrying levels of abuse against doctors and colleagues

BMA urges public to be kind as survey reveals worrying levels of abuse against doctors and colleagues More than a third of doctors have faced recent abuse from patients, or those close to them, according to a survey from the British Medical Association.

For GPs, the number was higher, with half reporting verbal abuse in the past month.

The survey of more than 2,400 doctors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, reveals a worrying level of abuse directed at doctors and their colleagues as they deal with the greatest health crisis in a generation.

See also:

• Doctors have faced “worrying levels of abuse” in past month, BMA reports The BMJ
• Half of GPs verbally abused in past month alone as BMA highlights burnout fears GPonline
• Over a third of NHS staff experiencing verbal abuse and threats, says survey The Guardian

Ambitions for change: improving healthcare in care homes

Ambitions for change: improving healthcare in care homes This report describes the care home sector across the UK as it currently stands and recent initiatives taken to improve healthcare for care home residents, including specific initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic. It describes how health and wellbeing has traditionally been supported in care homes and sets out what good healthcare provision in a care home environment should look like. British Geriatrics Society 

The Department of Health and Social Care’s white paper Integration and Innovation: an evidence submission by the National Audit Office to the Health and Social Care Committee Inquiry – March 2021

The Department of Health and Social Care’s white paper Integration and Innovation: an evidence submission by the National Audit Office to the Health and Social Care Committee Inquiry – March 2021 The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee carried out an inquiry into the proposals set out in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) white paper, Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all. This evidence submission briefing highlights the main risks and opportunities the NAO sees in the white paper. Five areas are identified it believes the DHSC and the NHS must pay particular attention: achieving integration at the local level; financial sustainability; wider system reform; securing change in adult social care; and national-level governance. National Audit Office

3 in 4 UK adults receive both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine

3 in 4 UK adults receive both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine Three quarters of adults in the UK have now received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, as the public continues to do what it can to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community.

A total of 86,780,455 doses have been administered in the UK, with 47,091,889 people receiving a first dose (89%) and 39,688,566 people receiving both doses (75%). Department of Health and Social Care

 

See also:

• Independent report: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: June 2021 final results Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Public Health England

Teenage jab rollout moving cautiously - expert

Teenage jab rollout moving cautiously - expert The UK is moving "cautiously" down the age groups as it decides how many under-18s should get a Covid vaccine - because of a "delicate balance" between benefits and risks, a scientist says.

Prof Adam Finn said the advice to invite 16 and 17-year-olds for their jab came after a small number of serious cases in this age group. BBC News

 

See also:

• Oxford-jab chief criticises UK's Covid booster plan BBC News
• Anger at overflowing Covid test drop boxes BBC News
• Britain's daily Covid cases rise by 8% in a week to 23,510 The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: More than THREE QUARTERS of adults in Britain have received both vaccine doses The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccine hesitancy rates have almost HALVED in 18-21 year olds with 95% willing to get jabbed The Daily Mail
• Anti-vaxxers target BBC – but protest at building the broadcaster left eight years ago The Daily Telegraph
• Covid contracts: inquiry to look into use of WhatsApp, says ICO The Guardian
• Think it’s all over? Why the Covid experts are not so sure about that The Guardian
• Covid patients in critical care are decade younger than in previous waves, data shows The Independent

Artificial Intelligence may diagnose dementia in a day

Artificial Intelligence may diagnose dementia in a day Scientists are testing an artificial-intelligence system thought to be capable of diagnosing dementia after a single brain scan.

It may also be able to predict whether the condition will remain stable for many years, slowly deteriorate or need immediate treatment.

Currently, it can take several scans and tests to diagnose dementia. BBC News

See also: 

• New AI programme may detect dementia in one day before symptoms even develop The Independent

Dido Harding to step down as chair of NHS Improvement

Dido Harding to step down as chair of NHS Improvement Dido Harding has announced that she is stepping down as chair of NHS Improvement in October, bringing to an end a tenure during which she often hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The Tory peer’s resignation comes shortly after she was unsuccessful in a bid to be the next chief executive of NHS England, amid controversy over her potential appointment. The Guardian

See also: 

• Test and Trace boss Dido Harding to step down from NHS role BBC News
• Dido Harding to step down as chair of NHS Improvement The Independent

MS charities decry UK postcode lottery for ‘life-changing’ drug

MS charities decry UK postcode lottery for ‘life-changing’ drug People with multiple sclerosis are paying up to £600 a month for a “life-changing” drug that is available on the NHS in Wales and Scotland but not in England.

Charities estimate that tens of thousands of people with MS are missing out on fampridine, which can improve a person’s ability to walk and reduce the risk of falling over. The Guardian

See also: 

• ‘It’s difficult to live a normal life’: MS patient denied drug in NHS postcode lottery The Guardian

Full schedule of three-month roadworks starting soon in busy Northampton roads

Full schedule of three-month roadworks starting soon in busy Northampton roads The carriageway widening and junction improvement works in Cliftonville Road, from Nurseries to Bedford Road, will start on August 23 until November 26, where there will be a temporary prohibition of traffic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

NHS trusts face unfunded spending pressures of £5bn in coming year

NHS trusts face unfunded spending pressures of £5bn in coming year Nuffield Trust analysis provided to the Observer, drawn from forthcoming research, shows that NHS trusts in England are on course to spend almost £5bn more next financial year than was anticipated when Theresa May set its funding levels in 2018. The calculation is based on projecting costs and efficiency using figures published by the health service. 

Could NHS waiting lists really reach 13 million?

Could NHS waiting lists really reach 13 million? Since the start of the pandemic, the number of people waiting for NHS treatment in England has grown by a fifth. 5.3 million people were waiting for treatment in May 2021, up from 4.4 million in February 2020. There has been a particularly sharp increase in the number of people waiting for longer than a year, causing widespread concern over the scale of the NHS ‘backlog’. Institute for Fiscal Studies

See also: 

• NHS waiting lists could rise to 14 million in England next year - analysis BBC News
• NHS England waiting list could soar to FOURTEEN MILLION by autumn 2022 The Daily Mail
• Private hospital groups set to profit from massive NHS backlog in wave of new deals iNews
• England's NHS waiting list could top 14 million by next autumn, report warns Sky News

Pandemic backlog of heart care could take 'up to five years' to recover

Pandemic backlog of heart care could take 'up to five years' to recover Waiting lists for life saving heart diagnosis and treatment could more than double within two years in England due to the pandemic, our new report has warned.

We estimate that the number of people anxiously waiting for heart care and diagnosis could peak at around 550,385 in January 2024 if the NHS in England doesn’t get enough investment and is under increased pressure from Covid-19 or a bad winter. British Heart Foundation

See also: 

• Heart surgery waits in England may rise by 40%, warns charity BBC News
• NHS England delays could lead to thousands of deaths, says heart charity The Guardian

Further Covid lockdowns in UK are now unlikely, says Neil Ferguson

Further Covid lockdowns in UK are now unlikely, says Neil Ferguson Prof Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose initial modelling helped shape Britain’s coronavirus response, has said future lockdowns are unlikely to be needed to control the spread of the disease in the UK.

However, the government scientific adviser warned that Covid case numbers could rise again and his prediction could change if the virus “changes substantially”. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: Man, 23, 'thought body could brush off virus' BBC News
• Is the coronavirus pandemic over at last? BBC Scotland
• Colombian variant may partially evade Covid vaccines just like Beta, health chiefs warn The Daily Mail
• Poorest Britons are almost three times more likely not to have had their Covid jab than the richest The Daily Mail
• Ethnic minorities now make up a higher proportion of Covid deaths than ever before The Daily Mail
• Fully-vaccinated people who catch Delta Covid strain may be JUST as infectious as the unjabbed The Daily Mail
• Covid patients reunited with the medics who saved them The Guardian
• JCVI ‘largely opposed’ to Covid vaccination for children under 16 The Guardian

The next battle for the NHS: Sajid Javid v Rishi Sunak

The next battle for the NHS: Sajid Javid v Rishi Sunak With soaring waiting lists and an exhausted workforce, billions are needed to avoid a crisis. Will the health secretary persuade a hard-nosed chancellor to fund the health service?

It has taken a combination of sheer grit, creativity and the adoption of some unprecedented emergency measures unthinkable at the start of last year. After 18 months of dealing with the pandemic’s ravages, there are now hopes that the NHS, perhaps Britain’s most revered and beloved of institutions, has managed to withstand the worst of the Covid onslaught. Yet although cases remain at far lower levels than some feared they would this summer, frontline staff fear the service faces a troubling diagnosis. The Guardian 

Fears over patient safety amid plans to ‘water down’ training for nurses

Fears over patient safety amid plans to ‘water down’ training for nurses Plans to simplify specialist nurse training across the UK pose “huge risks” to patient safety, health leaders have warned.

Nursing leaders are united in opposition against proposals by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to ostensibly simplify the qualification process.

They warn the watchdog is moving away from its core function – to protect the public – with a “reductionist” approach to the training of nurses working with the most at-risk groups. The Independent 

Wrong bodies released by NHS mortuaries dozens of times

Wrong bodies released by NHS mortuaries dozens of times There have been more than 530 serious incidents where NHS trusts have released the wrong body to families or lost, damaged or kept the organs or bodies of babies without family permission, new figures reveal.

Data on serious incidents within NHS mortuaries shows there were 55 cases where mortuary staff handed over the wrong body since 2017. The Independent 

Transit vans will be turned into electric ambulances to slash NHS' carbon footprint and fuel bills

Transit vans will be turned into electric ambulances to slash NHS' carbon footprint and fuel bills NHS bosses are working with Ford to convert their transit van into a double-crewed electric emergency vehicle as the NHS launches its bid to be the first service in the world to be net zero by 2040. The Daily Mail 

Kettering's Sarah immortalised with new Barbie doll

Kettering's Sarah immortalised with new Barbie doll When Kettering' s Sarah Gilbert began work on a Covid-19 vaccine, one of the last things she thought she would be doing 18 months later was holding a Barbie doll of herself. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Barbie of Oxford Covid vaccine designer Dame Sarah Gilbert created BBC Northampton

Wizards of Oz? What the UK can learn from Australia’s healthcare system

Wizards of Oz? What the UK can learn from Australia’s healthcare system This report compares and contrasts the Australian healthcare system with the NHS, with particular focus on outcomes. Australia and the UK had very similar healthcare models until the late 1940s, when they diverged. The UK created the NHS; Australia implemented gradual reforms, leading to a multi-layered hybrid system. Institute of Economic Affairs

It’s not just about the front door of the hospital: lessons from the medical generalism in smaller hospitals study

It’s not just about the front door of the hospital: lessons from the medical generalism in smaller hospitals study With it argued that current models of hospital care may not be best for the rising number of NHS patients who are older or with multiple conditions, could a revival of medical generalism be the way forward? Louella Vaughan describes 12 important lessons from a study looking at models of generalist and specialist care in smaller hospitals in England. Nuffield Trust

A qualified success: a personal reflection on the passing of Public Health England

A qualified success: a personal reflection on the passing of Public Health England On 1 October Public Health England will cease to be, its functions largely subsumed into the United Kingdom Health Security Agency and the Office for Health Promotion, with some more clinical work going to NHS England. But did it deserve to go? The King's Fund 

Extra places on medical and dentistry courses for 2021

Extra places on medical and dentistry courses for 2021 Medical and dentistry schools across England will get additional funding to expand courses for the coming academic year to fulfil more offers for UK students who achieve the required grades.

In response to this year’s unprecedented situation the Government has adjusted the cap on medical and dentistry places so that more students than ever will have the opportunity to study on these courses in 2021, and in the long term help boost our future NHS workforce. Department of Health and Social Care

Nightlife industry joins COVID-19 vaccine push for young people

Nightlife industry joins COVID-19 vaccine push for young people Leading figures of the nightlife industry – including venues Ministry of Sound and Heaven – have joined the national effort to get the country vaccinated as they urge young people to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• New NHS chief urges young people to get jabbed NHS England
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine surveillance reports Public Health England
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season Public Health England

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 5 August 2021

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 5 August 2021 An estimated 945,000 people living in private households in the UK (1.46% of the population) were experiencing self-reported "long COVID" (symptoms persisting for more than four weeks after the first suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) infection that were not explained by something else), at 4 July 2021. Office for National Statistics

See also: 

• Almost 400,000 Brits have had 'long Covid' for over a year, official figures suggest The Daily Mail
• 34,000 children in UK suffering from long Covid, ONS survey suggests The Independent

UK faces difficult choices on future Covid vaccination strategy

UK faces difficult choices on future Covid vaccination strategy Analysis: should vaccines be used for children and booster shots or go toward the global effort to save lives?

The UK’s Covid vaccination programme has been an astonishing effort. To date almost 89% of adults have received their first dose and just over 73% have had their second.

And the programme is set to expand. Children over the age of 12 who are extremely vulnerable or live with someone at risk are already offered the jab, but this week the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that 16 and 17-year-olds should also be offered their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. Booster shots are also expected to be rolled out later this year to the most vulnerable. The Guardian

See also: 

• Covid vaccine: Needle-phobic call for vaccine exemption BBC News
• Drug used to treat high cholesterol can reduce number of COVID-19-infected cells by up to 70% The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases fall by just 3% in a week as curve begins to flatten out The Daily Mail
• Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is 93% effective after six months The Daily Mail
• Forbid NHS staff who refuse Covid vaccine from treating patients, says Sage adviser The Daily Telegraph
• Failing to wear a face mask on Tube should be a criminal offence, says Sadiq Khan The Daily Telegraph
• UK doctors alarmed at ‘shambolic’ rollout of Covid jabs for children The Guardian

Intensive care units face ‘grim’ situation despite fall in Covid cases

Intensive care units face ‘grim’ situation despite fall in Covid cases Hospital intensive care units remain under substantial pressure despite a fall in Covid cases, the president of the Intensive Care Society has warned, as more NHS trusts cancel operations across England.

Stephen Webb, a consultant in intensive care and deputy medical director at the Royal Papworth Hospital Trust, told The Independent many ICUs were facing a “grim” situation despite the dramatic drop in infections in recent weeks. The Independent

Pfizer and Flynn accused of overcharging NHS for anti-epilepsy drugs

Pfizer and Flynn accused of overcharging NHS for anti-epilepsy drugs Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Flynn have been accused by the UK’s competition watchdog of illegally overcharging the NHS for vital anti-epilepsy drugs by abusing their dominance in the market to raise prices overnight.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed its 2016 finding that the pair exploited a loophole to charge unfairly high prices for phenytoin sodium capsules by debranding the drug, known as Epanutin, in 2012 so it would not face price regulation. The Guardian 

Women in public health: The NHS, fighting COVID-19 and the 'slow pandemic'

Women in public health: The NHS, fighting COVID-19 and the 'slow pandemic' From health workers on the frontline to those behind treatments and vaccines, female figures have played a key role in the fight against the virus - but it doesn't stop there.

On the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we are joined by the former chief medical officer for England Dame Sally Davies and infectious disease expert, Professor Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London.

Pop-up COVID vaccine clinic at Northampton Town Festival this weekend

Pop-up COVID vaccine clinic at Northampton Town Festival this weekend People visiting the Northampton Town Festival this weekend will be able to drop in for their COVID jab at a pop-up vaccination clinic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Mural artist brings joy to communal gardens at Northampton General Hospital staff flats with tropical-themed design

Mural artist brings joy to communal gardens at Northampton General Hospital staff flats with tropical-themed design A tropical-themed mural has been painted in the communal gardens of a new housing development for Northampton General Hospital staff. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Where does the learning behind the integrated care system (ICS) model come from internationally, and what is the evidence of the impact of similar models?

Where does the learning behind the integrated care system (ICS) model come from internationally, and what is the evidence of the impact of similar models? This briefing outlines the learning behind integrated care systems and the impact of similar models internationally. NHS Providers

Up in smoke: the impact of smoking on health and economic activity

Up in smoke: the impact of smoking on health and economic activity This report argues that anti-smoking measures could save billions across the UK economy. It highlights the costs of smoking not just to individuals’ health, but to the sustainability of the broader healthcare system and to the public purse as the government aims to “build back better” from the pandemic. International Longevity Centre UK 

Improving non-emergency patient transport services: report of the non-emergency patient transport review

Improving non-emergency patient transport services: report of the non-emergency patient transport review This report sets out measures for improving an important element of travel to healthcare: non-emergency patient transport (NEPTS). These NHS funded transport services support those people whose medical condition or mobility constraint would otherwise be a major barrier to getting to treatment. The report draws on the findings of a national review, which has worked closely with the sector. The aim is to ensure that NEPTS is more responsive, fair and sustainable. NHS England 

REACT study shows fully vaccinated are three times less likely to be infected

REACT study shows fully vaccinated are three times less likely to be infected The latest REACT-1 study findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show COVID-19 infection rates are three times lower for double vaccinated people. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Statement on offering COVID-19 vaccination to young people Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: JCVI statement, August 2021: COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people aged 12 to 17 years Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Red, amber and green list rules for entering England Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Fifth of England hospital admissions aged 18-34

Covid: Fifth of England hospital admissions aged 18-34 One in five people being admitted to hospital in England with Covid is aged between 18 and 34, the new chief executive of NHS England has said.

In her first major interview, Amanda Pritchard told the BBC that about 1,000 young adults were currently "really unwell" in hospital.

She said it was "so important" people came forward to get vaccinated. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Jabs for 16 and 17-year-olds to start within weeks BBC News
• Covid: 'No time to waste' in vaccinating 16-17 year olds BBC News
• Covid: 16 and 17-year-olds react to jab rollout plan BBC News
• Covid: Pressured oxygen reduces ventilator need BBC News
• Covid UK: Weekly cases RISE 6% as deaths jump a third, though hospitalisations are down The Daily Mail
• Covid cases in unvaccinated Brits are THREE times higher compared to those who are fully immunised The Daily Mail
• The risks and rewards of vaccinating UK children against Covid The Guardian
• Covid contracts: minister replaced phone before it could be searched The Guardian

Munchausen by Internet: Are chronic illness influencers really faking it?

Munchausen by Internet: Are chronic illness influencers really faking it? With 15m people in England alone living with a long-term condition, and numbers rising, it’s no surprise the chronically ill community has exploded online in the last few years. Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez and Lena Dunham are opening up about their conditions, and chronic illness influencers are attracting huge social media followings.

But as visibility has grown, so have accusations of fakery. A new BBC documentary, Sickness & Lies, explores whether the accusers are right. Are some influencers faking illnesses for fame, money and attention? BBC News

Study reveals the most common serious safety errors on hospital wards

Study reveals the most common serious safety errors on hospital wards A study examining more than 370 severe harm incidents and deaths in NHS hospitals over 10 years has highlighted the risks to patients from fragmented care on busy wards and shortages of staff. The Independent

See also: 

• Learning from patient safety incidents involving acutely sick adults in hospital assessment units in England and Wales: a mixed methods analysis for quality improvement (open access) Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

NHS drops from first to fourth among rich countries’ healthcare systems

NHS drops from first to fourth among rich countries’ healthcare systems The NHS has lost its prestigious ranking as the best health system in a study of 11 rich countries by an influential US thinktank.

The UK has fallen from first to fourth in the Commonwealth Fund’s latest analysis of the performance of the healthcare systems in the nations it studied. The Guardian

See also:

• Mirror mirror 2021 : reflecting poorly The Commonwealth Fund
• NHS loses crown as world’s best healthcare system The Independent

BAME staff told to change names to 'western' ones

BAME staff told to change names to 'western' ones Workers at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust (UHBW), which runs the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Children’s Hospital and Weston General, were told by managers to “adopt” a Western-sounding name while at work.

The behaviour was revealed during an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and reported to the trust’s chief executive, Robert Woolley, in a post-inspection feedback letter. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Minority NHS staff told to use ‘western’ sounding names by line managers The Independent

New KGH breast cancer biopsy system to 'make that traumatic experience a little bit easier '

New KGH breast cancer biopsy system to 'make that traumatic experience a little bit easier ' The Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography Biopsy system enables women with breast lesions have their biopsy right away in a 10-minute procedure at KGH. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Labelling gaffe saw KGH patient given eye injection - based on another person's scans

Labelling gaffe saw KGH patient given eye injection - based on another person's scans A blunder at Kettering General Hospital saw a patient given an eye injection - based on another person's scans which were wrongly labelled with their details. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Primary care networks: two years on

Primary care networks: two years on Despite still being in their infancy, primary care networks (PCN) have played a leading role in England’s response to Covid-19. Two years on from their creation, and approaching the mid-point of their five-year contract, this report considers their progress and successes so far, the challenges they have faced and the opportunities that lie ahead with the move to greater system working. NHS Confederation 

Supporting mental healthcare in a maternity and neonatal setting: good practice guide and case studies

Supporting mental healthcare in a maternity and neonatal setting: good practice guide and case studies This guide is for commissioners and staff involved in maternity and neonatal care. It describes the underpinning principles of and good practice for supporting good mental health and psychological wellbeing in maternity and neonatal settings. It also considers the role of specialist maternal mental health services (MMHS) in supporting this function. NHS England and NHS Improvement 

You only had to ask: what people with multiple conditions say about health equity

You only had to ask: what people with multiple conditions say about health equity The research for this report  focused on four areas of England containing communities on low incomes, people from minority ethnic groups and people living in both urban and rural environments. It combines the insights of the professionals and services working in those places with those of the people living there. These areas are: Stockwell in South London, Manningham and Toller in Bradford, Balsall Heath East and Sparkbrook in Birmingham and North Ormesby in Middlesbrough. The report calls on national decision-makers to act on its findings or face growing health inequality, worse outcomes for people and a growing bill for the Treasury. The Richmond Group of Charities 

Caring for hospital patients with Covid-19: quality of care in England examined by case record review

Caring for hospital patients with Covid-19: quality of care in England examined by case record review This study recruited a sample and demographic representative of English hospitals’ experience of the Covid-19 pandemic. It gathered information about the quality of care delivered from 19 organisations which between them accounted for a population of almost 10.5 million people. The report reviewed 510 patient cases and their care to identify learnings from the pandemic. It concluded that overall care delivered was judged to have been adequate or better in 96.5 per cent of the patient cases. Royal College of Physicians

Long-lasting Covid-19 symptoms rare in children

Long-lasting Covid-19 symptoms rare in children Children who become ill with coronavirus rarely experience long-term symptoms, with most recovering in less than a week, research suggests.

King's College London scientists say that while a small group may experience prolonged illness, they were "reassured" that number was low.

Headaches and tiredness were the most common symptoms seen. BBC News

See also: 

• Illness duration and symptom profile in symptomatic UK school-aged children tested for SARS-CoV-2 (open access) The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health
• Covid cases and hospital admissions down - is it over? BBC News
• Covid vaccine set to be offered to 16 and 17-year-olds BBC News
• China Covid: China targets school students to control case surge BBC News
• Status of some UK citizens vaccinated overseas still not recognised by NHS The Guardian
• Scotland to scrap social distancing amid plan to lift most Covid rules The Guardian

NHS must work in “new ways” to deliver care, says new chief executive

NHS must work in “new ways” to deliver care, says new chief executive The health service in England must work in “new ways” to deliver the care patients need, according to its new chief executive.

In one of her first comments since taking over NHS England’s £130 billion budget, Amanda Pritchard has also reiterated the need to look after the wellbeing of NHS staff who she said had been forced to “cope with deeply distressing circumstances” during the pandemic. The Independent 

Health Secretary intervenes after NHS issues guidance on transgender patients in hospitals

Health Secretary intervenes after NHS issues guidance on transgender patients in hospitals The Health Secretary is to review guidance on transgender patients being admitted to single-sex wards in the wake of an investigation by The Daily Telegraph. 

Drug-related deaths in England and Wales hit highest level in 2020 since records began 30 years ago

Drug-related deaths in England and Wales hit highest level in 2020 since records began 30 years ago There were 4,561 drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales in 2020, the highest number since records began and 3.8 per cent higher than a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2020 registrations Office for National Statistics

NHS explores 'digital staff passports'

NHS explores 'digital staff passports' The NHS is shortly to begin comprehensive research to support plans to create a “digital staff passport” that would allow employees across the health service to move more easily more between roles and organisations. Public Technology

Covid cases up again in Northamptonshire hospitals as experts fear Freedom Day impact is still to come

Covid cases up again in Northamptonshire hospitals as experts fear Freedom Day impact is still to come Overwhelmed Northamptonshire hospital staff are braced for more Covid-19 patients coming through the door.

The number of people needing treatment for the virus in the county's two main hospitals jumped from 38 to 61 in a week according to latest figures published. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Summer holidays are here and restrictions have lifted but Covid is still a serious health risk in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• More than 30m people to receive booster Covid jabs, starting next month Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Pandemic leaving ‘deep physical and emotional scars’ on large proportion of older population, charity warns Northamptonshire Telegraph

Union chiefs hail deal securing 10,000 NHS jobs at Northamptonshire's hospitals

Union chiefs hail deal securing 10,000 NHS jobs at Northamptonshire's hospitals Bosses at the UK's largest union are hailing a deal with the county's two biggest hospitals which will protect more than 10,000 NHS jobs in Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Public perceptions of the NHS in 2020

Public perceptions of the NHS in 2020 The British Social Attitudes survey has provided years of insight into public perceptions of the NHS. In 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the survey asked only one question about health and care issues. Here, Dan Wellings and John Appleby share the data collected. Nuffield Trust 

Continuity and change? Six things to distinguish Amanda Pritchard’s leadership of the NHS

Continuity and change? Six things to distinguish Amanda Pritchard’s leadership of the NHS  Congratulations to Amanda Pritchard on her appointment as Chief Executive of NHS England. While her predecessor has successfully led the health service through some of the greatest challenges in its history, she takes over with the NHS in a perilous state – still battling with a global pandemic and delivering its largest ever vaccination programme, with an exhausted workforce, rising waiting lists and increasing health inequalities. Faced with that to-do list, you may wonder why anyone would want to do the job. The King's Fund

Lessons from the 2000s: the ambition to reduce waits must be matched with patience and realism

Lessons from the 2000s: the ambition to reduce waits must be matched with patience and realism As a result of Covid-19 waiting times for NHS treatment, already an issue before the pandemic, have grown to historic highs – or have they? Richard Murray compares current waiting times to those seen in the 2000s – and asks what we can learn from the last time the NHS tackled long waits. The King's Fund

A perfect storm: health inequalities and the impact of Covid-19

A perfect storm: health inequalities and the impact of Covid-19 This report warns that Covid-19 has created a ‘perfect storm’ of existing inequality and disease, leading to higher rates of coronavirus infections and death amongst the most disadvantaged people. It says it is vital to act now and drive forward work programmes which reduce inequalities, prevent poor health and improve people’s opportunities to live healthier, more active lives. Examples from local authorities are included, ranging from providing mental health services for tackling loneliness and isolation, to accessing essential items such as food, medicine and financial support. Local Government Association 

Through the visor 2: further learning from member experiences during Covid-19

Through the visor 2: further learning from member experiences during Covid-19 This report is from a second survey of BGS members describing their experiences of working through the Covid-19 pandemic during winter 2020-21 and beyond. Respondents represented a variety of professions involved in the health care of older people. These included consultants, speciality registrars, specialist nurses, allied health professionals and GPs working in acute, community and primary care. While responses indicated that many practical aspects had improved since the first survey, concerns remained, including the mental and emotional toll on health care professionals caring for older people. British Geriatrics Society 

New study into COVID-19 vaccine dose interval for pregnant women

New study into COVID-19 vaccine dose interval for pregnant women The country’s largest clinical trial investigating the best gap between first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses for pregnant women is being launched in England.

Following 130,000 pregnant women being vaccinated in the US and no safety concerns being raised, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were recommended by the independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for pregnant women in the UK. Almost 52,000 pregnant women in England have now been vaccinated – similarly, with no safety concerns reported. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• NHS COVID-19 app updated to notify fewer contacts to isolate Department of Health and Social Care
• More than 85 million COVID-19 vaccines administered in UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Chief midwife urges pregnant women to get NHS COVID jab NHS England
• COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report published Public Health England

Covid: NHS app in England and Wales tweaked to notify fewer contacts

Covid: NHS app in England and Wales tweaked to notify fewer contacts The NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales is being tweaked so fewer contacts will be advised to self-isolate following a close contact with a positive case.

The app will look for contacts two days prior, rather than five, when someone without symptoms tests positive. BBC News

See also: 

• Wuhan: Chinese city to test entire population after virus resurfaces BBC News
• No Covid traces found in railway stations or trains BBC News
• Hunt for certainty over Covid cases continues BBC News
• More detailed data released on Covid in hospitals BBC News
• Covid vaccines have prevented 60,000 deaths in England - Jonathan Van-Tam BBC News
• Covid: Pulse oxygen monitors work less well on darker skin, experts say BBC News
• Doctor shares X-rays showing difference in lungs of unvaccinated and vaccinated COVID-19 patients The Daily Mail
• Booster vaccine drive begins next month: ALL over-50s will get third dose 'alongside annual flu jab' The Daily Mail
• SAGE: Next Covid variant could kill one in three people The Daily Mail
• NHS made secret pandemic plan to deny care to elderly The Daily Telegraph
• NHS urged to redistribute near-expiry vaccines as take-up slows in young The Guardian
• Johnson dumps ‘amber watchlist’ plan as it emerges top adviser has quit The Guardian
• Only 13% of Covid test centres for critical workers are open, No 10 admits The Guardian

Assisted dying: Campaigners renewed hope for change in the law

Assisted dying: Campaigners renewed hope for change in the law David Peace has motor neurone disease, a terminal illness which gradually affects the brain and nerves.

He says he intends to travel to a Swiss clinic to end his life before his condition prevents him from making the journey.

David, who lives in central London, is one of a number of people behind renewed calls to update England and Wales assisted dying laws to allow terminally ill people, with six months to live, the right to end their life, subject to strict criteria.

A second reading of the assisted dying bill is due to take place in the House of Lords this autumn. BBC News 

Lack of doctors not to blame for higher weekend hospital deaths, landmark study shows

Lack of doctors not to blame for higher weekend hospital deaths, landmark study shows A lack of GP services and poor community healthcare could be behind higher death rates among hospital patients admitted at the weekend, according to a landmark study.

Until now, blame for higher mortality among weekend patients has been placed on a lack of senior doctors on duty in hospitals. The Independent

See also: 

• Increasing specialist intensity at weekends to improve outcomes for patients undergoing emergency hospital admission: the HiSLAC two-phase mixed-methods study National Institute for Health Research

Pharma firm Advanz fined after thyroid drug price hike of 6,000%

Pharma firm Advanz fined after thyroid drug price hike of 6,000% The UK’s competition watchdog has imposed fines of more than £100m on the pharmaceutical company Advanz and its former private equity owners after it was found to have inflated the price of its thyroid tablets by up to 6,000%.

An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that the private-equity backed pharmaceutical company charged “excessive and unfair prices” for liothyronine tablets, which are used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency. The Guardian

 

See also:

• Drug firm fined for huge price rise that hit NHS BBC News
• Pain aggravation: the human cost of medicine price hikes The Guardian
• Price gouging fine for Advanz is a rare story that is becoming common The Guardian