Long-term air pollution linked to greater risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation

Long-term air pollution linked to greater risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation A new report finds a link between long-term exposure to air pollution and the severity with which a person will experience the effects of COVID-19.

Air pollution has harmful effects on the lungs. When COVID-19, a disease which infects the airways of the lungs, became a global pandemic it raised the question - does air pollution increase the chance of catching COVID-19 or worsen health outcomes if you do contract it? Imperial College London Environmental Research Group

Dismissed for too long: recommendations to improve migraine care in the UK

Dismissed for too long: recommendations to improve migraine care in the UK This report found a wide range of issues with migraine healthcare including slow or no diagnosis and lack of access to specialist care. It sets out the action needed from government, healthcare systems and other organisations to give everyone living with migraine in the UK the support they need. Migraine Trust 

Additional £5.4 billion for NHS COVID-19 response over next six months

Additional £5.4 billion for NHS COVID-19 response over next six months The NHS will receive an extra £5.4 billion over the next six months to support its response to COVID-19 and help tackle waiting lists, the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid have announced.

The funding will immediately go towards supporting the NHS to manage the immediate pressures of the pandemic. This includes an extra £1 billion to help tackle the COVID-19 backlog, £2.8 billion to cover related costs such as enhanced infection control measures to keep staff and patients safe from the virus and £478 million to continue the hospital discharge programme, freeing up beds. Department of Health and Social Care

Social care: PM to unveil overhaul of sector in England

Social care: PM to unveil overhaul of sector in England Boris Johnson will vow to end "catastrophic costs" for social care users in England when he sets out long-awaited reform proposals later.

The prime minister will announce the plans to MPs, alongside money to help the NHS respond to the Covid pandemic.

He is expected to breach election promises and raise National Insurance (NI) by about 1.25%.

And the plan has prompted a backlash from some of his own Tory MPs. BBC News

See also: 

• Fixing social care is not all about a cap on costs The King's Fund
• There is an alternative to the Government's social care reform plans The Daily Telegraph
• What has gone wrong with social care in England? The Guardian
• Boris Johnson faces growing red wall rebellion over social care tax rises The Guardian
• Boris Johnson to defy Tory anger with social care plan set to hit workers with higher national insurance bills The Independent
• UK National Insurance rise: How social care reform plans could impact income – and why there’s a backlash iNews
• Why is Boris Johnson's plan for social care reform being widely criticised? ITV News

Government plans October firebreak lockdown if Covid hospital admissions remain high

Government plans October firebreak lockdown if Covid hospital admissions remain high The Government has drawn up plans for an October “firebreak” Covid lockdown should hospitalisations continue at their current level and threaten to overload the NHS, a senior Government scientist has told i.

The member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the UK is about to enter “an extended peak” of infections and hospitalisations, which are in danger of pushing the NHS beyond breaking point and could force the Government to re-introduce restrictions over the school half term period at the end of next month. iNews

See also: 

• United States eclipses more than 1,500 COVID-19 deaths per day - the highest in six months The Daily Mail
• Weekly Covid tests for pupils could be scrapped this month, Gavin Williamson says The Daily Telegraph
• No 10 intent on keeping Covid powers amid expected rise in cases The Guardian
• NHS 'ready to go' with Covid jab booster programme, says vaccines minister The Independent
• Covid antibodies ‘tumbling’ among elderly, fuelling calls for booster jab rollout The Independent

Mental health patients in shared wards despite calls for NHS to end practice

Mental health patients in shared wards despite calls for NHS to end practice Concerns raised after minister says there are more than 1,100 beds still in dormitory settings in England.

People with serious mental health problems are being forced to share wards with distressed fellow patients, 20 years after the NHS was told to give them all their own rooms.

There are still more than 1,100 beds in dormitory wards in mental health units in England, despite sustained criticism of their potentially damaging effects on patients, the government has said. The Guardian 

GP staff facing abuse from patients over cancelled blood tests

GP staff facing abuse from patients over cancelled blood tests GP surgery staff are facing abuse from patients who are “angry and upset” that their blood test has been cancelled because of the NHS-wide chronic shortage of sample bottles.

“Patients are angry when we ring them up and say, ‘Sorry we can’t do your blood test after all’. A lot of people are quite angry and concerned about their own health,” Dr David Wrigley, the deputy chair of council at the British Medical Association, said. The Guardian 

Corby's Covid rate now highest in England again

Corby's Covid rate now highest in England again Corby holds the unenviable position of having England's highest Covid-19 case rate once more after a surge in people testing positive for the virus.

The town's high rates topped the chart for the majority of the first three months of 2021 before cases rapidly dropped. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Car sharing could be adding to Covid increase in Northamptonshire warn NHS officials Northants Live 

Corby medical practice warns patients of flu vaccine delays

Corby medical practice warns patients of flu vaccine delays Corby's biggest GP practice has warned patients to not turn up for flu jab appointments because the shipment of life-saving vaccines has been delayed. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Almost £17bn needed to clear backlog and treat expected rise in patients needing NHS hospital care

Almost £17bn needed to clear backlog and treat expected rise in patients needing NHS hospital care Further support and investment in staff and infrastructure also essential to address ‘huge challenge’ facing the NHS, warns The Health Foundation

New analysis from the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre sets out the scale of the challenge facing government if it wants to clear the backlog in NHS care over the course of this parliament and return hospital waiting times to 18 weeks. 

We need to move from person-centred to community-centred services

We need to move from person-centred to community-centred services For many years, health and social care organisations have aimed to create 'person-centred' services built around the individual. But if we want to make a meaningful difference to people's health and wellbeing, I believe there is a need to shift from person-centred to community-centred ways of working. My argument in this blog is that to do so we need to reframe what success would look like; promote more 'mutual' approaches; give community building the same billing (and resource) as public service reform and be open and honest about what gets in the way. The King's Fund 

Clinical and care professional leadership in integrated care systems

Clinical and care professional leadership in integrated care systems This report was commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement, to inform its guidance to support embedding system-wide clinical and professional leadership in all integrated care systems. NHS Confederation 

Prospective parents given more choice over when to start a family

Prospective parents given more choice over when to start a family People across the UK will have more choice over when to start a family as the government sets out plans to increase the storage limits for eggs, sperm and embryos.

Following a public consultation last year, proposals will be introduced to increase the statutory storage limits for everyone from the current 10 years, to a 10 year renewable storage period up to a maximum of 55 years. Department of Health and Social Care 

New body to tackle health disparities will launch 1 October, co-headed by new DCMO

New body to tackle health disparities will launch 1 October, co-headed by new DCMO The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will officially launch on 1 October with the aim of tackling health inequalities across the country. It will be co-led by newly appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy.

The OHID will be a vital part of the Department of Health and Social Care and will drive the prevention agenda across government to reduce health disparities, many of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and improve the public’s health.

People seeking NHS weight loss help heavier than those before COVID new study finds

People seeking NHS weight loss help heavier than those before COVID new study finds People seeking NHS help to lose weight during the pandemic are on average five pounds heavier than those starting the programme during the previous three years, new NHS research has revealed. Extra weight, gained as people lived through the COVID pandemic, means people are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. NHS England 

Covid: Shaken to the core, can the NHS cope this winter?

Covid: Shaken to the core, can the NHS cope this winter? With autumn arriving, the NHS is bracing itself for a tough few months.

Covid, plus the return of normal winter illnesses and a growing backlog, could stretch the NHS to its limit.

How well equipped is the NHS for what is coming? BBC News

See also: 

• Millions of pupils return to school amid Covid spike concern BBC News
• Covid: What Israel tells us about the way out of the pandemic BBC News
• Covid-19: Vaccine passports to start in England this month BBC News
• Covid: Decision to jab children 'entirely up to parents' BBC News
• Nadhim Zahawi hints full vaccination will be required of NHS staff The Daily Mail
• NHS staffing crisis fears as Sajid Javid pushes ahead with compulsory Covid vaccines The Daily Telegraph
• Give pupils Covid jab to prevent virus running through UK, expert says The Guardian
• COVID-19: Forcing all NHS staff to have coronavirus jab 'not necessary', says leading health group Sky News

Flu jab delay: Doctors call for MPs to take action

Flu jab delay: Doctors call for MPs to take action Doctors have queried why the government did not plan for a delay to flu vaccine deliveries in England and Wales.

Seqirus, one of the UK's largest suppliers of seasonal flu vaccines, has said the delay of up to two weeks is due to a shortage of HGV drivers.

British Medical Association vice-chairman David Wrigley urged MPs to "to take some action and say why are there were no contingency plans in place". BBC News 

See also: 

• Winter flu vaccine programme ‘cannot fail’ says College in response to delivery delays Royal College of General Practitioners
• GP surgeries in England cancel flu jabs amid vaccine shortage The Guardian
• Winter flu jabs in England face disruption from vaccine shortage The Independent

NHS to receive extra £5.5bn to help Covid recovery, says government source

NHS to receive extra £5.5bn to help Covid recovery, says government source Boris Johnson will unveil his long-term plans for social care and the NHS as early as Tuesday, amid rows over how to pay for multi-billion pound funding.

The PM said he had a plan to reform social care when he took power in 2019, but has yet to announce the detail.

Now, reports of an increase in National Insurance to cover the cost - which would break his commitment not to raise taxes - has led to anger from Tory MPs. BBC News

See also:

• Social care: Plans for reform in England likely this week - sources BBC News
• Chancellor is 'playing hardball' over PM's proposed £10billion tax to ease Covid pressures on NHS The Daily Mail
• Increase taxes not national insurance to fund social care, says Jeremy Hunt The Guardian
• Boris Johnson faces open warfare with his own party over national insurance hike The Independent
• Politicians' obsession with NHS funding has left social care fat cats to milk the system dry iNews

Reports of sex abuse between children double in two years

Reports of sex abuse between children double in two years Reports of children sexually abusing other children doubled in the two years to 2019, according to police figures obtained by BBC Panorama.

The programme has followed up on research from 2017, when police recorded almost 8,000 reports of abuse among under-18s in England and Wales.

Yearly reports have risen to between 15,000 and 16,000, but cases fell in 2020-21 during the pandemic. BBC News 

Cuts to NHS mental health beds mean more than £100m spent on private providers

Cuts to NHS mental health beds mean more than £100m spent on private providers Plummeting numbers of mental health beds in the NHS have led to a steep rise in spending on private hospitals in England as patients are increasingly sent miles from home to be treated, according to Labour research. The Independent

Coroners warned of mental health care failings in dozens of inquests

Coroners warned of mental health care failings in dozens of inquests Shortfalls in mental health services and staffing have been flagged as concerns in dozens of inquests since 2015, the Observer can reveal, with coroners issuing repeated warnings over patients facing long waiting lists or falling through gaps in service provision.

The Observer has identified 56 mental health-related deaths in England and Wales from the start of 2015 to the end of 2020 where coroners identified a lack of staffing or service provision as a “matter of concern”, meaning they believed “there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken”.

NHS gender identity clinic whistleblower wins damages

NHS gender identity clinic whistleblower wins damages A child safeguarding expert who faced vilification after raising concerns about the safety of children undergoing treatment at a London NHS gender identity clinic has won an employment tribunal case against the hospital trust.

Sonia Appleby, 62, was awarded £20,000 after an employment tribunal ruled the NHS’s Tavistock and Portman trust’s treatment of her damaged her professional reputation and “prevented her from proper work on safeguarding”. The Guardian

See also: 

•  NHS child gender identity clinic whistleblower wins tribunal BBC News

Pilot scheme to link up NHS and social care is increasing delays

Pilot scheme to link up NHS and social care is increasing delays Patients waited longer for treatment under a flagship pilot scheme to integrate health and social care, figures reveal, as experts warn the programme may exacerbate the backlog. The Daily Telegraph

Lucy Wightman's LAST column: Everyone needs to help to ensure we can live safely in Northamptonshire with Covid among us

Lucy Wightman's LAST column: Everyone needs to help to ensure we can live safely in Northamptonshire with Covid among us 'We all need to continue to play our vital part in preventing further cases across Northamptonshire' says county's public health director. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Northamptonshire 16 and 17-year-olds urged to take up coronavirus vaccine offer to protect themselves and loved ones Northampton Chronicle and Echo

GP patient survey 2021: The 10 worst-rated doctors’ surgeries in Northamptonshire as voted by you

GP patient survey 2021: The 10 worst-rated doctors’ surgeries in Northamptonshire as voted by you Patients’ satisfaction with their local surgeries has remained high despite all of the chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Gynaecological cancer awareness month: Specialist nurse from Northampton busts common myths

Gynaecological cancer awareness month: Specialist nurse from Northampton busts common myths A specialist nurse from Northampton has busted a number of common myths about gynaecological cancer as part of an awareness month.

Claire Campbell, Macmillan’s Gynae-Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Northampton General Hospital, has put the facts straight on gynaecological cancers and is correcting some of the most common myths. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Osteoporosis: Woman had nine spinal fractures in 10 months

Osteoporosis: Woman had nine spinal fractures in 10 months A woman with osteoporosis said she had nine spinal fractures in 10 months and was left unable to walk.

Karen Faulkner, 61, from Northampton, said prior to being diagnosed with osteoporosis she was a regular gym-goer with a full-time job.

But she said has been now unable to work for more than a year. BBC Northampton

Fixing social care is not all about a cap on costs

Fixing social care is not all about a cap on costs Einstein said that everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler. He would surely turn in his grave at the state of the debate about social care reform in England which, increasingly, has been reduced to whether the government will introduce a 'cap' on social care costs and, if so, how it will pay for it. The King's Fund

Deaths from suicide that occurred in England and Wales: April to July 2020

Deaths from suicide that occurred in England and Wales: April to July 2020 This is the first assessment of suicides in England and Wales, based on official death registrations, that occurred during the early months of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, until now not feasible because of death registration delays. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• England's first Covid lockdown DIDN'T trigger a spike in suicides, official data shows The Daily Mail
• Suicide rate fell during first Covid lockdown The Daily Telegraph
• Suicide rate did not rise during first Covid lockdown, reports ONS Evening Standard

New hospitals join pioneering study to improve prostate cancer diagnosis using AI

New hospitals join pioneering study to improve prostate cancer diagnosis using AI Six new NHS trusts across England will receive funding for ground-breaking trial of Artificial Intelligence to diagnose prostate cancer quicker. Department of Health and Social Care 

UK and Australia agree to share vaccines to tackle global pandemic

UK and Australia agree to share vaccines to tackle global pandemic The UK and Australia will share COVID-19 vaccine doses to benefit each other’s life-saving vaccine rollout programmes, the government has announced today.

The UK will send 4 million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines to Australia to rapidly enhance their vaccination programme, with the first batch of 292,000 doses due to be shipped shortly. Australia will return the same overall volume of doses before the end of the year. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Half of all 16 and 17-year-olds receive life-saving COVID vaccine NHS England
• COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report published Public Health England
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season Public Health England

Covid: Schools aren't infection hubs, says public health boss

Covid: Schools aren't infection hubs, says public health boss Schools are not "drivers" or "hubs" of Covid infection, Public Health England's medical director has said.

Dr Yvonne Doyle said she understood parents' nervousness about schools returning after the summer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

She stressed that lots of measures to cut Covid spread remained in place.

But Prof Calum Semple, a government scientific adviser, said with most adults vaccinated, schools were likely to be a "greater part of the problem". BBC News

See also: 

• Covid map: Coronavirus cases, deaths, vaccinations by country BBC News
• Covid: Australia to get Pfizer doses from UK in vaccine swap BBC News
• HALF of all 16 and 17 year olds in England have already had their Covid vaccine The Daily Mail
• No urgency on Covid booster shots for healthy adults, says UK scientist The Guardian
• Covid: NHS 'ready' to vaccinate over-12s in schools in 'very near future', Gavin Williamson says ITV News

Jeremy Hunt: Taxpayers must pay more to fund social care

Jeremy Hunt: Taxpayers must pay more to fund social care The government must find a way for social care to be adequately funded, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has said, amid reports ministers plan to raise national insurance.

Downing Street did not deny reports of an increase of at least 1% to improve social care and tackle the NHS backlog. BBC News

See also: 

• Why the time has come for a new health and care premium The Daily Telegraph
• Tax rise for 25 million to pay for social care The Daily Telegraph
• Increase taxes not national insurance to fund social care, says Jeremy Hunt The Guardian
• Rise in national insurance could fund post-Covid boost for NHS The Guardian

Sexual abuse of children happening in broad range of religious settings, report finds

Sexual abuse of children happening in broad range of religious settings, report finds Most major religions are guilty of "blatant hypocrisy" for covering up sex abuse while preaching "right from wrong", a government-ordered inquiry has concluded. 

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) examined child protection in 38 religious organisations and settings in England and Wales. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• Religious groups in UK failing children over sex abuse, report says BBC News
• Child sexual abuse victims let down by ‘blatant hypocrisy and moral failing of religions’, inquiry finds The Independent
• A 'moral failing': Report finds child sexual abuse prevalent in institutions across major UK religions Sky News

Around 78 million people may have dementia by 2030 - a 45% increase - WHO predicts

Around 78 million people may have dementia by 2030 - a 45% increase - WHO predicts About 78 million people may have dementia by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates in a new report. 

It would be a 42 percent increase from current figures - the number was 55 million in 2019.

By 2050, the number of people with dementia could be 139 million, the WHO says - a whopping 153 percent increase from 2019. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• World failing to address dementia challenge World Health Organization
• Global status report on the public health response to dementia World Health Organization

GP patient survey 2021: the 10 best-rated doctors’ surgeries in Northamptonshire as voted by you

GP patient survey 2021: the 10 best-rated doctors’ surgeries in Northamptonshire as voted by you In a year when GP appointments were more likely to be a phone call than a face-to-face meeting, it seems patients’ satisfaction with their local surgeries has remained high. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

What will it cost to get the NHS and social care on the road to recovery?

What will it cost to get the NHS and social care on the road to recovery? Next week parliament will return, with the government facing a number of important and pressing decisions. Looming large is the future funding of the NHS and social care.

The Chancellor has now set 27 October as the date for the Autumn Statement and it’s likely that will include the outcome of a Spending Review. To support planning in the NHS and social care, a multi-year spending review would be the preferred approach, but it might follow the pattern of previous years and only cover one year. Either way there is speculation that funding for the NHS and social care will be decided and announced in a matter of weeks. The Health Foundation 

A reckoning: the continuing cost of COVID-19

A reckoning: the continuing cost of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has inceased the cost of running frontline NHS services by £4-5bn a year.

These costs are in addition to other key financial factors, such as the need to fund capital investment and recover care backlogs, and they will be with us for the duration of the three-year period that is expected to be covered by the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

This joint briefing by NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation, based on survey data from 54% of the provider sector, explains the long-term impact of the pandemic on the NHS’s day-to-day running costs, and calls on the government to ensure these costs are met in full. 

See also: 

• Patients in peril as NHS future funding finalised NHS Providers
• Warning over cuts to NHS services without £10bn extra funding BBC News
• NHS ‘needs £10bn annual boost’ to tackle backlog and Covid cost The Guardian

Scrapping free prescriptions for over-60s “a kick in the teeth both for poorly older people and the NHS”

Scrapping free prescriptions for over-60s “a kick in the teeth both for poorly older people and the NHS” Charity launches new campaign to save free prescriptions for 60-65s, warning it will put older people’s health at risk and pile pressure on the NHS if government plans go ahead. Age UK 

See also: 

• Scrapping free prescriptions for over-60s ‘could have devastating impact’ The Guardian

Health Secretary and DCMO statements on JCVI advice on third jabs

Health Secretary and DCMO statements on JCVI advice on third jabs The government accepts JCVI's advice to offer a third COVID-19 vaccine to people with severely weakened immune systems. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Independent report: Third primary COVID-19 vaccine dose for people who are immunosuppressed: JCVI advice Department of Health and Social Care
• JCVI issues advice on third dose vaccination for severely immunosuppressed Public Health England

Coronavirus vaccines cut risk of long Covid, study finds

Coronavirus vaccines cut risk of long Covid, study finds Being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 not only cuts the risk of catching it, but also of an infection turning into long Covid, research led by King's College London suggests.

It shows that in the minority of people who get Covid despite two jabs, the odds of developing symptoms lasting longer than four weeks are cut by 50%. BBC News

See also: 

• Risk factors and disease profile of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK users of the COVID Symptom Study app: a prospective, community-based, nested, case-control study (open access) The Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Third Covid jab advised for most vulnerable 1% BBC News
• Long Covid in children - time to be reassured BBC News
• Ivermectin developer begins trial of pill it hopes could prevent people from contracting Covid The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Daily cases flatten at 35,693 positive tests amid fears schools' return will cause surge The Daily Mail
• WHO warns of potentially vaccine resistant 'Mu' variant that originated in Colombia The Daily Mail
• Just one in 20 pupils identified as contacts of children with Covid-19 went on to test positive The Daily Telegraph
• Who will be eligible for a third Covid jab in the UK? The Guardian
• UK sees 207 Covid deaths in 24 hours — highest daily number for six months The Independent

Mental Health: The ambulance workers feeding callers

Mental Health: The ambulance workers feeding callers The British Dietetic Association say they are concerned about a rise in mental health patients across the UK going without food during the Covid-19 crisis.

With specialist dieticians seeing an increase in patients arriving at hospital malnourished, there are calls for mental health assessments to include questions about people's access to food.

The BBC followed a mental health ambulance team in Merseyside who have been providing food parcels for patients. BBC News 

‘We’ve got to catch up’: inside an NHS hospital battling a long waiting list

‘We’ve got to catch up’: inside an NHS hospital battling a long waiting list University College hospital allows access to its new facility and staff to show how the health service is trying to tackle backlogs. The Guardian 

Children are facing a postcode lottery over NHS treatment

Children are facing a postcode lottery over NHS treatment Doctors warn that the pandemic has had a 'very detrimental effect' on youngsters after paediatric staff were redeployed to treat adults with Covid. It means young patients had operations cancelled. The Daily Mail 

Vial shortage leads to KGH and GPs cancelling routine blood tests

Vial shortage leads to KGH and GPs cancelling routine blood tests Kettering General Hospital has cancelled some routine blood tests and has warned it may need to postpone more because of a national shortage of test tubes. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

What good looks like framework and funding digital programmes

What good looks like framework and funding digital programmes The NHSX What good looks like framework outlines digital best practice for trusts and integrated care systems. This briefing summarises the proposed framework and associated funding information, followed by a discussion of the implications for trust leaders. NHS Providers 

Guidance for LPCs and pharmacy PCN Leads on the role of a lead and the support that should be offered

Guidance for LPCs and pharmacy PCN Leads on the role of a lead and the support that should be offered This briefing describes how an appointed pharmacy primary care network (PCN) lead should carry out this role. It outlines the principles leads should follow in the discharge of their role, as well as providing guidance for Local Pharmaceutical Committees (LPCs) and Pharmacy PCN Leads on additional aspects of the role, including support that should be provided, appointment terms, funding for the role and providing clarity on the role’s remit. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee 

NHS to diagnose thousands of people with rare diabetes

NHS to diagnose thousands of people with rare diabetes Genetic testing on the NHS will spot a rare form of diabetes in thousands of people unaware they are living with the disease, alongside a new training scheme for staff.

The test being rolled out across England can also spot whether people have passed the affected gene on to their children, while the health service is training hundreds of staff across the country to be experts in the rare condition.

Known as monogenic diabetes, around 12,000 people in England are thought to have the condition, which if left undetected can mean patients struggle to manage glucose levels. NHS England 

‘Operation Warm Welcome’ underway to support Afghan arrivals in the UK

‘Operation Warm Welcome’ underway to support Afghan arrivals in the UK Arrivals under Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy will be given immediate indefinite leave to remain, alongside funding for school places and healthcare. Department of Health and Social Care et al

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 31 August 2021

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 31 August 2021 With just under 4.4 million new cases reported this week (23-29 August), the number of new cases reported globally remains similar to the previous week after increasing for nearly two months (since mid-June).

In this edition, a special focus update is provided on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta which includes updates on the geographic distribution of these VOCs as well as a description of a newly classified Variant of Interest (VOI), Mu. World Health Organization

See also:

• WHO monitoring new coronavirus variant named Mu The Guardian
• A new Covid variant is being monitored by the World Health Organisation Northamptonshire Telegraph

Covid: What do under-30s need to know about the vaccine?

Covid: What do under-30s need to know about the vaccine? Being double vaccinated still offers the best protection against the Delta variant, first identified in India and now dominant in the UK, according to a new study.

But people who have had both doses can still catch and transmit the disease, so researchers say it is essential that as many people are possible get the jab.

Everyone aged 16 and over in the UK can now receive the Covid vaccine. BBC News

See also:

• Covid UK: Daily hospital admissions breach 1,000 for first time since February as cases jump 4.4% The Daily Mail
• Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine creates TWICE as many antibodies as Pfizer's, study finds The Daily Mail
• Trials for Johnson & Johnson HIV vaccine FAIL as shots were determined to be only 25% effective The Daily Mail
• No 10 to press on with plans for Covid vaccine passports in England The Guardian
• ‘Covid-19 isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon’: Hospital boss issues frank warning to staff The Independent

NHS blood tube shortage: Supplier ramps up imports

NHS blood tube shortage: Supplier ramps up imports Becton Dickinson (BD) - which makes blood test vials for the NHS - is ramping up imports to try to alleviate serious shortages of test tubes.

The firm told the BBC it has received "exceptional use authorisation" from UK authorities to import blood tubes that are already approved for use in other countries, such as the US. BBC News

Huge discrepancy in NHS England waiting times for common procedures

Huge discrepancy in NHS England waiting times for common procedures NHS patients enter a postcode lottery when it comes to common hospital treatments such as eye, hip and knee surgery in England – with some areas facing huge backlogs while others have almost none, new research reveals.

The “stark and huge” regional disparities show how thousands of patients have been left in discomfort and pain for months while waiting for procedures that would be readily available only 100 miles away. The Guardian 

Black surgeons ‘promoted far less than white colleagues in England’

Black surgeons ‘promoted far less than white colleagues in England’ Black surgeons are far less likely to be promoted than their white colleagues, according to analysis of NHS medics’ careers in England.

Black men who were junior surgeons in 2010 were 27% less likely to be promoted to consultant than white men between 2016 and 2020, while black women were 42% less likely. The Guardian

See also: 

• The British Academy of Management's research into diversity and seniority in surgery: our comment Royal College of Surgeons

‘Gamechanging’ heart disease drug approved for use in England

‘Gamechanging’ heart disease drug approved for use in England Patients in England are to start receiving a “gamechanger” drug that doctors say will prevent tens of thousands of lives by cutting the number of people who have a heart attack or stroke.

The treatment, inclisiran, works by boosting the liver’s ability to reduce the body’s level of “bad” cholesterol, even in those who have already tried using statins. The Guardian

See also: 

• NICE approves ground-breaking cholesterol-lowering drug inclisiran NICE
• Life-saving cholesterol jab recommended on NHS BBC News
• 'Life-saving' twice-yearly injections can replace daily statin tablets for thousands The Daily Mail

More than 600 mental health crisis referrals to Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust in just a month

More than 600 mental health crisis referrals to Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust in just a month People in crisis were referred for urgent or emergency mental health support at Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust more than 600 times in just a month, figures show. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Warning as Covid variant found in South Africa is ‘most mutated’ strain so far

Warning as Covid variant found in South Africa is ‘most mutated’ strain so far A Covid variant first identified in South Africa “could be more infectious” than all other mutations identified so far, scientists warn.

The C.1.2 strain was detected by scientists in South Africa in May this year and is thought to have the potential to evade coronavirus vaccines. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid vaccine uptake: The Northampton areas with the greatest number of teenagers vaccinated Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Campaign launched for Northamptonshire public to 'be kind and bear others in mind' as normality returns Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid rule-breakers from Burton Latimer, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough sentenced at court Northamptonshire Telegraph

The good childhood report 2021

The good childhood report 2021 This report shows the latest trends in children's well-being. The research seeks to understand how young people feel about different aspects of their lives. This year school, friendships and appearance continue to cause the greatest dissatisfaction in adolescence. Children's Society 

Responding to the needs of a diverse workforce and community during Covid-19

Responding to the needs of a diverse workforce and community during Covid-19 Solent NHS Trust is a community and mental health trust that covers Portsmouth, Southampton and parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. At the outbreak of Covid-19, a comprehensive organisational diversity and inclusion response was developed, focussing on five workstreams. This case study describes in detail the five workstreams, accomplishments and lessons learnt for the future. NHS Employers 

NHS COVID ‘grab-a-jab’ initiative boosts ethnic minority vaccinations

NHS COVID ‘grab-a-jab’ initiative boosts ethnic minority vaccinations The NHS COIVD vaccination programme has protected more than 700,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds since rolling out the grab-a-jab campaign.

An analysis of one grab-a-jab weekend in July found that 2 in 5 of the 80,000 walk-in doses administered were to people from ethnic minority groups, significantly more than the proportion in the wider community.

People have been able to turn up and ‘grab a jab’ at festivals, mosques, town halls, football grounds and other convenient sites since the campaign began earlier this summer. NHS England

See also: 

• Health Secretary article in The Times Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Delta twice as likely to need hospital care

Covid: Delta twice as likely to need hospital care People are twice as likely to need hospital care if they are sick with the Delta Covid variant, rather than the Alpha variant that was once prevalent in the UK, data from England suggests.

Experts say the big study, published in The Lancet, reinforces why it is important that people get fully jabbed. BBC News

See also:

• Hospital admission and emergency care attendance risk for SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) compared with alpha (B.1.1.7) variants of concern: a cohort study (open access) The Lancet
• Covid: Teen in hospital with virus urges others to get vaccinated BBC News
• New Zealand woman dies after receiving Pfizer vaccine BBC News
• Covid in Scotland: Record number of cases as NHS faces 'perfect storm' BBC News
• Covid origin: US spy agencies publish 'inconclusive' report BBC News
• England will suffer a WORSE Covid outbreak than Scotland following children returning to schools The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Cases rise 2% in a week to 38,046 as hospitalisations creep up by 10% The Daily Mail
• England's R rate is now definitely ABOVE one for first time in a month and outbreak grew by 9% The Daily Mail
• Unvaccinated care home staff moving to NHS, creating tricky dilemma for Government The Daily Telegraph
• Who is now receiving critical care for Covid? The Guardian
• Up to 600,000 Britons feared to have missed second AstraZeneca dose The Independent
• Why are US anti-vaxxers touting a horse dewormer as a cure for Covid? The Independent

Rugby study finds brain affected in one season

Rugby study finds brain affected in one season After just one season of rugby players at a professional team saw a decline in both blood flow to the brain and cognitive function, a new study claims

The University of South Wales research followed a professional rugby team over the course of a season, testing players pre-season, mid-season and post season.

It will be published in Wednesday's September edition of the Journal of Experimental Physiology. BBC News 

Blood test shortage: NHS chiefs working 'flat out' to resolve shortage of blood sample tubes

Blood test shortage: NHS chiefs working 'flat out' to resolve shortage of blood sample tubes Health chiefs say they are working ‘flat out’ to resolve the nationwide shortage of blood collection tubes that has halted all but the most clinically urgent blood tests.

The British Medical Association warned at the weekend that the shortage of blood tubes across hospitals and GP surgeries is now severe and if the NHS does not reduce the amount being used in the coming days, even the most clinically important blood tests may be at risk. iNews

See also: 

• NHS blood test tube shortage set to worsen BBC News
• NHS blood test tube shortage: Doctors 'facing difficult choices' BBC News
• GPs instructed to halt all non-urgent blood tests until mid-September GPonline
• GPs ordered to halt all non-urgent blood tests across England until September The Independent

Strain on mental health care leaves 8m people without help, say NHS leaders

Strain on mental health care leaves 8m people without help, say NHS leaders An estimated 8 million people in England with mental health problems cannot get specialist help because they are not considered sick enough to qualify, NHS leaders have revealed as the toll of the pandemic is laid bare.

The figure, drawn up by mental health trusts and NHS Providers, underlines the gap between the growing need for care for anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, and the ability of the NHS to treat them. The Guardian

Huge decrease in organ transplants as Covid took hold across world

Huge decrease in organ transplants as Covid took hold across world The number of solid organ transplants fell dramatically around the world between 2019 and 2020, researchers have found, highlighting the widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on health services and patients.

As the pandemic surged, hospitals were forced to delay potentially life-saving organ transplant surgery, because of resources such as intensive care beds being needed for Covid patients and because of concerns including whether it was safe to treat transplant recipients in hospital. The Guardian 

Royal College of Nursing moves conference online following allegations of sexual harassment

Royal College of Nursing moves conference online following allegations of sexual harassment A major nursing conference has been moved online following serious allegations of sexual harassment.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said its 2021 Congress would now be held virtually in order to safeguard attendees. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• RCN Congress 2021 to be held exclusively online Royal College of Nursing
• Royal College of Nursing: Conference scrapped over sex harassment claims BBC News

Corby Novavax vaccine trial volunteers' concerns raised with health secretary

Corby Novavax vaccine trial volunteers' concerns raised with health secretary The plight of volunteers of a vaccine trial that was held in Corby and recruited unpaid volunteers from the town has been raised at the highest level of government.

More than 600 people had been recruited to trial the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine, carried out by GPs at Lakeside Healthcare in Cottingham Road. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Northampton General Hospital praises service to connect consultants and GPs for reducing Covid backlog

Northampton General Hospital praises service to connect consultants and GPs for reducing Covid backlog A service which better connects consultants and GPs has been praised by Northampton General Hospital for helping during the pandemic and to reduce its backlog. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Chart of the week: How does patient experience of general practice vary with deprivation?

Chart of the week: How does patient experience of general practice vary with deprivation? With the recently published 2021 GP Patient Survey providing an insight into patient experience during the pandemic, Jessica Morris takes a closer look at how the results varied across areas with different levels of deprivation. Nuffield Trust 

The public health workforce: overdue for attention

The public health workforce: overdue for attention There were times in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic when the decision-makers in Whitehall (including in the Department of Health and Social Care) gave the impression that they did not know what or who their directors of public health (DsPH) were, or how to use them. The 134 DsPH, based in local authorities across the country, were left battling Covid-19 while essential information failed to reach them from the centre. The King's Fund 

Antenatal and newborn screening: identifying and reducing inequalities

Antenatal and newborn screening: identifying and reducing inequalities This guidance was produced to support providers, commissioners and other partners involved in the delivery of NHS antenatal and newborn screening programmes. It includes information and resources on how to identify and reduce inequalities. Public Health England 

Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season

Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. Public Health England 

Covid: Vaccine complications dwarfed by virus risks

Covid: Vaccine complications dwarfed by virus risks A major review of vaccines suggests the AstraZeneca jab does raise the risk of blood clots and another serious condition that can cause bleeding.

But the study found the risk of such problems following a coronavirus infection was still much higher.

The University of Oxford-led team also found an increased risk of stroke after the Pfizer jab - but again at a much lower rate than after infection.

The team said it once again showed the "substantial" benefit of vaccination. BBC News

See also:

• Risk of thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism after covid-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 positive testing: self-controlled case series study (open access) The BMJ
• Covid jab side-effects 'mild' for at-risk children BBC News
• Around 85% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients STILL have not fully recovered months later The Daily Mail
• BBC presenter died of brain haemorrhage 'due to complications of AZ vaccine', inquest finds The Daily Telegraph
• Confusion over Covid jabs for over-12s in England ahead of new school term The Guardian
• Attempt to force release of Johnson’s messages on Covid in care homes fails The Guardian
• NHS hospitals warned over infection risks of masks and respirators brought in during pandemic The Independent
• Are people getting Covid after the vaccine? Rest of the world matches UK rise in cases among fully vaccinated iNews
• Boris Johnson ‘privately accepts’ up to 50,000 annual Covid deaths as an acceptable level iNews

Eating disorders: Charity reports rise in calls about binge eating

Eating disorders: Charity reports rise in calls about binge eating There's been a significant rise in the number of people requesting help for Binge Eating Disorder over the past three years, according to the charity Beat.

The condition is a serious mental illness, where people eat large quantities of food without feeling like they're in control of what they're doing.

Beat says calls about binge eating to its helpline more than tripled in the past three years, with much of the increase taking place during the coronavirus lockdown. BBC News 

Air pollution linked to more severe mental illness – study

Air pollution linked to more severe mental illness – study Exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased severity of mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.

The research, involving 13,000 people in London, found that a relatively small increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide led to a 32% increase in the risk of needing community-based treatment and an 18% increase in the risk of being admitted to hospital. The Guardian

See also:

• Association between air pollution exposure and mental health service use among individuals with first presentations of psychotic and mood disorders: retrospective cohort study (open access) British Journal of Psychiatry

Government orders NHS trusts to call hospital refurbs ‘new hospitals’ as it scrambles to hit 2030 build target

Government orders NHS trusts to call hospital refurbs ‘new hospitals’ as it scrambles to hit 2030 build target The Government has ordered NHS trusts to describe any major refurbishments, new wings, and units as “a new hospital” as it seeks to deliver on its pledge to build 48 hospitals by 2030.

The communications “playbook” for the Government’s NHS building programme tells trusts that such building projects “must always be referred to as a new hospital”. iNews

See also: 

• Did Sajid Javid open a ‘new hospital’ in Carlisle? Full Fact
• DHSC ‘playbook’ orders trusts to describe big building projects as ‘new hospitals’ (log in required) HSJ
• NHS trusts told to describe building work on existing sites as ‘new hospitals’ The Independent

'A bleak picture': Nurse vacancies increase across English NHS

'A bleak picture': Nurse vacancies increase across English NHS The number of NHS nurse vacancies in England has spiked by a significant 12% in the past few months, latest data has revealed. Nursing Times

See also:

• NHS Vacancy Statistics England April 2015 – June 2021 NHS Digital
• Royal College of Nursing responds to increase in NHS England nursing vacancies Royal College of Nursing

Majority of the public support a 10% pay rise for NHS workers and would back industrial action

Majority of the public support a 10% pay rise for NHS workers and would back industrial action A massive 94% of the British public support a single year rise of more than 3%, with over half saying above 10% is more appropriate.

Over half of the public also said they supported industrial action if a deal could not be reached. NursingNotes  

Most drop-in Covid-19 vaccine centres in Northamptonshire now open to 16 and 17-year-olds

Most drop-in Covid-19 vaccine centres in Northamptonshire now open to 16 and 17-year-olds Nearly every drop-in COVID vaccination clinic in Northamptonshire is now open for people aged 16 and 17 to get their first jab and protect themselves against coronavirus. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Wellingborough Isebrook Hospital reduced outpatients services to make way for antenatal hub

Wellingborough Isebrook Hospital reduced outpatients services to make way for antenatal hub Isebrook Hospital patients who accessed medical outpatients care at the Wellingborough before the Covid pandemic disrupted services may not be back at their clinics due to the space being requisitioned for a new antenatal hub. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS staff vote on Government’s pay offer as UNISON visits Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals

NHS staff vote on Government’s pay offer as UNISON visits Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals Staff at both Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals had a visit from a health union to discuss and vote on the Government’s pay offer. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Waiting for care: Understanding the pandemic’s effects on people’s health and quality of life

Waiting for care: Understanding the pandemic’s effects on people’s health and quality of life The effects of the pandemic should not be measured in mortality alone. The suspension of routine NHS care has affected people’s health and wellbeing – with the significance of this depending on the type of condition or treatment delayed.

For some conditions, a delay in care will make little or no difference. For others, a delay could lead both to living longer in pain – worsening quality of life – and/or a deterioration in their condition. This analysis explores the implications of this via two case studies – hip replacements and diabetes. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Patients denied care during pandemic face agonising delays as waiting times hit record levels ITV News 

The extent of discrimination emerges

The extent of discrimination emerges A BMA survey of the medical profession finds antiquated attitudes prevail towards women, who reportedly lack the support needed to establish themselves in leadership positions British Medical Association

See also: 

• Sexism in medicine (report) British Medical Association

What support do nurses and midwives qualifying in the age of Covid-19 need?: insights from UNISON members 2021

What support do nurses and midwives qualifying in the age of Covid-19 need?: insights from UNISON members 2021 This report finds that more than two thirds (70 per cent) of students or newly qualified nurses and midwives believe they have missed out on important learning experiences during Covid. The findings also show more than half (56 per cent) of final year students worry they’re not as prepared for qualification as they should be. The report calls for the government and NHS leaders to give greater support to the newly qualified health staff. UNISON 

Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health

Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health According to this report, many children and young people will be left without vital mental health support unless the Government goes further to invest fully in services where they are most needed. It lists the Covid-19 pandemic as a factor as it brought with it uncertainty and anxiety caused by the lockdowns, school closures, isolation from friends and peers, bereavement and loss, and extra stresses and pressures on families. NHS Confederation

Independent report: SHARE: consent, confidentiality and information sharing in mental healthcare and suicide prevention

Independent report: SHARE: consent, confidentiality and information sharing in mental healthcare and suicide prevention Guidance from the Zero Suicide Alliance on using DHSC’s consensus statement and engaging with patients when discussing confidentiality and consent to share information. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Guidance: Consensus statement for information sharing and suicide prevention Department of Health and Social Care

Back to school campaign launches

Back to school campaign launches Today (Thursday 26 August) the government launches its back to school and college campaign to set out the experience that students can ‘get back to’ from September, with restrictions such as bubbles eased to allow a full return to sport, music, drama, science experiments and being with their friends.

Schools and colleges are maintaining proportionate protective measures such as testing, ventilation and extra hygiene precautions that help keep children and staff safe and minimise disruption to face-to-face education. Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care 

Coronavirus: Waning immunity and rising cases - time to worry?

Coronavirus: Waning immunity and rising cases - time to worry? A month ago, coronavirus cases were falling and the lifting of nearly all restrictions looked like it had been a success.

But just weeks later, infections levels are rising again, with more than 30,000 new cases being confirmed each day, and there is growing evidence immunity through vaccination is waning. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: NHS England prepares jabs plan for 12-15 year-olds BBC News
• Search for Covid's origins stalled, scientists say BBC News
• Student A level result parties blamed for 'astonishing' Covid boom in Leicestershire district The Daily Mail
• Pfizer CEO says vaccine-resistant strain of COVID is 'likely' to emerge The Daily Mail
• Sources say only 'a few hundred thousand' of most vulnerable Brits will be eligible for third doses The Daily Mail
• NHS draws up plans to vaccinate 12-year-olds The Daily Telegraph
• Unions criticise English schools ‘more normal year’ campaign as naive The Guardian

NHS stops some blood tests due to vial shortages

NHS stops some blood tests due to vial shortages The NHS has temporarily stopped some blood testing for certain conditions due to shortages of collection tubes.

NHS England has issued guidance urging doctors to stagger regular blood tests if clinically safe.

The decision came after Becton Dickinson, which makes vials for the NHS, warned of serious supply chain issues across the UK. BBC News

Hospitals told to remove toxic chemical after children left with burns and patients injected by mistake

Hospitals told to remove toxic chemical after children left with burns and patients injected by mistake The NHS has ordered the removal of a toxic corrosive liquid from all clinical areas after more than 30 incidents of patients and staff being left with serious injuries, including burns, when it was injected by mistake or spilled.

A safety alert issued on Wednesday by NHS England said all bottles of liquefied phenol 80 per cent concentration should be taken out of use and replaced by safer alternatives. The Independent 

NHS mental health therapists pressurised to exaggerate success rates, expert claims

NHS mental health therapists pressurised to exaggerate success rates, expert claims The provision of psychological treatment on the NHS has undergone an “Uberisation”, in which counsellors are pressurised to exaggerate their success in treating patients, a conference has heard. The Independent 

Northampton man spared jail after going on two drunken rampages at hospital - including spitting in police officer's face

Northampton man spared jail after going on two drunken rampages at hospital - including spitting in police officer's face A Northampton man was spared jail after a string of drunken offences including spitting in the face of a police officer during the coronavirus pandemic.

Stoian Veaceslav assaulted two guards, a police officer and a nurse at Northampton General Hospital and crashed his car while intoxicated in two separate incidents last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

International nurse recruitment to the community

International nurse recruitment to the community The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has launched a new project to support the work of NHS England & NHS Improvement, to facilitate the recruitment of Registered Nurses from overseas to NHS community organisations in England.

The QNI project seeks to understand what would attract a nurse to work within an NHS community service, and the enablers and barriers to international recruitment to community provider organisations. The project will also give support to the six pilot sites currently participating in the NHS International Recruitment (IR) scheme.

Organ donation and transplantation data for Black, Asian, mixed race and minority ethnic (BAME) communities: report for 2020/2021 (1 April 2016 - 31 March 2021)

Organ donation and transplantation data for Black, Asian, mixed race and minority ethnic (BAME) communities: report for 2020/2021 (1 April 2016 - 31 March 2021) This report provides information related to organ donation and transplantation within the white and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK. It finds the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the numbers of living donor kidney transplants that could be performed. In 2020/21 there was a comparable drop in both White and non-White deceased donors, but a 61 per cent decrease in the number of BAME living donors, compared to a 58 per cent drop overall. NHS Blood and Transplant 

Guidance on the functions and governance of the integrated care board, and the model constitution

Guidance on the functions and governance of the integrated care board, and the model constitution NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) published several integrated care system (ICS) guidance documents and accompanying resources on 19 August 2021 to support systems’ transition into statutory integrated care boards (ICBs) by 1 April 2022. This briefing summarises these resources and provides detailed commentary on the ICB functions and governance guidance, model constitution and ICS people guidance. NHS Providers

Life-saving world-first NHS test for pregnant women

Life-saving world-first NHS test for pregnant women A same-day life-saving test to rule out a potentially fatal disease in pregnant women is being rolled out across the NHS.

Known as placental growth factor (PLGF) testing, the new blood test is the first of its kind in the world to rule out pre-eclampsia – a life-threatening condition for both pregnant women and their babies that often results in long hospital stays – and has already helped thousands of expectant mothers. NHS England 

New study to test third COVID-19 vaccine for people with weakened immune systems

New study to test third COVID-19 vaccine for people with weakened immune systems A new clinical trial will investigate whether a third dose of vaccine for people with weakened immune systems gives a stronger immune response than two doses. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid infection protection waning in double jabbed

Covid infection protection waning in double jabbed Researchers say they are seeing some waning of protection against Covid infections in double-jabbed people.

The real-world study includes data on positive Covid PCR test results between May and July 2021 among more than a million people who had received two doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine. BBC News

See also:

• Covid jab response low for some immunosuppressed people BBC News
• Covid: Cornwall tourists urged to 'stay away' as cases rise BBC News
• Covid patients are up to TWICE as likely to develop dangerous blood clots after surgery The Daily Mail
• Why force care home workers to have jabs, but not NHS staff? The Daily Telegraph
• NHS Covid pass still not recognised in some EU countries The Guardian
• Covid claims 100 lives a day on average across the UK, statistics show The Guardian

Number of young smokers rose by a quarter in first lockdown, England study shows

Number of young smokers rose by a quarter in first lockdown, England study shows The number of young adults who smoke in England rose by about a quarter in the first lockdown, research has suggested.

Nevertheless, the number of people who stopped smoking altogether increased, with the number across all age groups almost doubling during the first national lockdown when compared with the period immediately prior, researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Sheffield said. The Guardian

See also: 

• Smoking among young adults increased by 25% during first lockdown Cancer Research UK
• Smoking surge in young during Covid lockdown BBC News

NHS fears ‘mass exodus’ of staff as mental health absences soar in 2021

NHS fears ‘mass exodus’ of staff as mental health absences soar in 2021 NHS leaders and experts have warned that the health service is facing a “mass exodus” of staff in the year ahead unless exhausted doctors and nurses struggle are given more support.

It comes as the latest figures show that mental health absences among NHS staff have soared during the spring and early summer – as a growing number suffer from burnout. The Independent

See also: 

• NHS doctors who postponed retirement at risk of ‘bailing’ from ‘creaking’ system The Daily Telegraph