How much longer and further are health inequalities set to rise?

How much longer and further are health inequalities set to rise? The launch of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) is accompanied by the starkest evidence yet of the large, persistent and widening inequalities in life expectancy at birth in England. The divide takes many forms - north-south, rich-poor, male-female, London versus the rest of the country. The King's Fund

Health is wealth – investors can no longer afford to ignore it

Health is wealth – investors can no longer afford to ignore it The link between health and prosperity has been rammed home by the pandemic. In 2008, a government-commissioned review found poor health cost the UK economy around £100bn per year. This year, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) estimated there was an eye-watering £300bn in lost economic output, excluding direct health care costs. The Health Foundation 

Mental Health Care Needs in the U.S. and 10 Other High-Income Countries

Mental Health Care Needs in the U.S. and 10 Other High-Income Countries Findings from the 2020 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey, which included the United States and 10 other high-income countries, highlight the need for continued investment in mental health. 

NHS mental health job coaches help thousands find work

NHS mental health job coaches help thousands find work Thousands of people with mental health problems have been supported into employment during the pandemic, thanks to the NHS Long Term Plan.

More than 4,000 people were employed over the last year in a range of roles including in retail and digital marketing as part of the employment support scheme run by the health service. NHS England

NHS encourages pregnant women to get COVID-19 vaccine

NHS encourages pregnant women to get COVID-19 vaccine The NHS is encouraging pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine as new data shows that nearly 20 per cent of the most critically ill COVID patients are pregnant women who have not been vaccinated. NHS England

See also: 

• Clinical trialists to be offered 'top-up' vaccine doses Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: Uncertain winter ahead as flu circulates at same time, says Harries

Covid-19: Uncertain winter ahead as flu circulates at same time, says Harries The UK is facing an uncertain winter with the spread of coronavirus and the flu, the head of the Health Security Agency Jenny Harries has said.

People are at "more significant risk of death and of serious illness if they are co-infected" with both viruses, she told the BBC.

She said: "It's a more uncertain year but I certainly would be encouraging everybody to go and get their vaccine." BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: Two million booster jabs given in England BBC News
• Covid: The UK is Europe's virus hotspot - does it matter? BBC News
• Novavax volunteers offered two approved travel jabs BBC News
• Could Long Covid be a little-known nervous system problem? The Daily Mail
• Adults with learning difficulties 9 TIMES more likely to die of Covid during first wave of pandemic The Daily Mail
• Experts estimate at least 30% of country have caught virus since pandemic began The Daily Mail
• Covid bereaved voice anguish at ‘ignored’ UK virus planning report The Guardian
• 17% of most critical Covid patients ‘are unvaccinated pregnant women’ The Independent
• Revealed - Health secretary's private alarm at 'huge' and growing problem of long Covid The Independent

Plans to hand over NHS data to police sparks warning from government adviser

Plans to hand over NHS data to police sparks warning from government adviser Plans to force the NHS to share confidential data with police across England are “very problematic” and could see patients giving false information to GPs, the government’s data watchdog has warned.

In her first interview, the national data guardian for England told The Independent she has serious concerns over Home Office plans to impose a responsibility on the NHS to share patient data with police.

NHS staff face rising tide of abuse from patients provoked by long waits

NHS staff face rising tide of abuse from patients provoked by long waits NHS staff across the UK are facing a “growing tide of abuse” including assaults from patients, which they say is being caused by frustration at long waits for care.

In a strongly worded joint statement, which has been shared with the Guardian, six key medical bodies and staff groups blame patients’ increasingly long delays in receiving treatment on years of successive governments underinvesting in the NHS and not fixing severe workforce shortages.

See also: 

• ‘People are being very angry with us’: A&E doctor on abuse of NHS staff The Guardian

Nursing crisis sweeps wards as NHS battles to find recruits

Nursing crisis sweeps wards as NHS battles to find recruits Lack of EU staff adding to shortages: ‘There aren’t enough to deliver care we need’

Ministers are being warned of a mounting workforce crisis in England’s hospitals as they struggle to recruit staff for tens of thousands of nursing vacancies, with one in five nursing posts on some wards now unfilled.

Hospital leaders say the nursing shortfall has been worsened by a collapse in the numbers of recruits from Europe, including Spain and Italy. The Guardian

See also: 

• Three-quarters of NHS staff consider leaving health service, survey says The Independent
• NHS intensive care unit which treated Boris Johnson for coronavirus ‘dangerously understaffed’, says union The Independent
• Nursing faces worst ever staffing crisis amid signs NHS hospitals cutting back on surgery again iNews
• Pressure on NHS 'will continue for years' but staff shortages mean workers are already burned out Nursing Notes

Sajid Javid working on radical plan to merge social care with health in England

Sajid Javid working on radical plan to merge social care with health in England Proposal aimed at freeing up NHS beds and offering home care could be included in white paper on reform

Radical plans for a new national care service under which health and social care would be delivered by the same organisation are being actively considered by the government for inclusion in a white paper next month, according to senior Conservatives and Whitehall sources. The Guardian 

Sajid Javid to set up 'NHS delivery unit' to show how proceeds of tax rise are being spent

Sajid Javid to set up 'NHS delivery unit' to show how proceeds of tax rise are being spent Sajid Javid is setting up an "NHS delivery unit" to oversee an efficiency drive in the health service, amid pressure to show that the proceeds of next April's National Insurance hike will not go to waste. The Daily Telegraph

More Northamptonshire pupils unhappy with mental health than almost anywhere else in England, data reveals

More Northamptonshire pupils unhappy with mental health than almost anywhere else in England, data reveals More children in Northamptonshire are unhappy with their mental health than almost anywhere else in England, according to a survey.

Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said a fifth of children in the country felt this way – making it their top concern – and praised them as being part of a “survivor generation”. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

See also:

• The Big Ask: The Big Answer (survey report) Children's Commissioner

Chart of the week: In which areas of England and Wales are more people dying at home?

Chart of the week: In which areas of England and Wales are more people dying at home? With death rates and trends changing dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic, Laura Schlepper takes a look at which regions of England and Wales have seen the biggest changes in the rate of deaths at home. Nuffield Trust 

Turning the tide: a 10-year healthy weight strategy

Turning the tide: a 10-year healthy weight strategy This report finds that levels of obesity have increased significantly across the UK over the last 30 years. It sets out a long-term agenda of evidence-informed policies with 30 recommendations, covering food and drink marketing, early years and treatment as well as the infrastructure needed to ensure policies are robustly implemented and evaluated. Obesity Health Alliance 

Fund to help end cycle of homelessness and hospital readmissions

Fund to help end cycle of homelessness and hospital readmissions People experiencing homelessness in England to be supported through pilot projects, backed by £16 million, to provide temporary accommodation, care and support. Department of Health and Social Care 

New film launched urging public to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines

New film launched urging public to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines Those eligible for the free flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster jab are being urged to book their appointments as soon as possible in a new film campaign launched today [Friday 8 October] aiming to help people give themselves and their loved ones the best possible protection this winter. Department of Health and Social Care 

Flu jab vital this winter along with Covid vaccine

Flu jab vital this winter along with Covid vaccine The public are being reminded to come forward for their flu jab to maximise their protection ahead of winter.

Health officials are worried because this will be the first winter Covid and flu circulate fully at the same time.

Research shows those infected with both viruses are more than twice as likely to die as someone with Covid alone. BBC News

See also: 

• NHS aims to give 35m flu jabs amid warnings of up to 60,000 deaths The Guardian
• Health officials fear up to 60,000 flu deaths this winter The Independent
• Flu jab: Respiratory illnesses could claim 60,000 lives this winter as NHS launches new vaccination campaign Sky News

Coronavirus report warned of impact on UK four years before pandemic

Coronavirus report warned of impact on UK four years before pandemic Senior health officials who war-gamed the impact of a coronavirus hitting the UK, warned four years before the onset of Covid-19 of the need for stockpiles of PPE, a computerised contact tracing system and screening for foreign travellers, the Guardian can reveal.

The calls to step up preparations in areas already identified as shortcomings in the government’s response to Covid, emerged from a previously unpublished report of a health planning exercise in February 2016 that imagined a coronavirus outbreak.

See also:

• Number of Britons falling ill with Covid every day is now at 'highest level since JANUARY' The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases rise to another month-high: Infections up 12% in a week to 40,701 The Daily Mail
• Millions of children head back to schools in England unmasked and unvaccinated The Daily Mail
• ‘I’d like to get my daughter vaccinated soon – I fear she will be next to get Covid’ The Guardian
• Private hospitals paid billions to treat just 8 Covid patients a day The Independent
• Pfizer vaccine protection wanes months after second shot, show studies The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS staff just as worried about pressures now as during peak of pandemic Sky News

Sajid Javid’s threat to sack NHS chiefs is doomed to fail

Sajid Javid’s threat to sack NHS chiefs is doomed to fail | Polly Toynbee A long, low groan echoes around the NHS. Not again, please? The new health secretary, Sajid Javid, pledges far-reaching reforms and the most comprehensive review since the 1980s. Too many new health secretaries start there, at the bottom of the learning curve, but Javid adds threats: “Hospital managers who fail to clear mounting NHS backlogs will be sacked under government plans for reform,” the Times was briefed, with him “preparing new powers to seize control of poorly performing hospitals”. The Guardian 

New breast cancer drug ‘reduces risk of disease progression or death’

New breast cancer drug ‘reduces risk of disease progression or death’ A new breast cancer drug reduces the risk of death or disease progression by 72 per cent compared to an existing treatment, AstraZeneca has announced.

The British company worked with another pharmaceutical giant on the drug, the Daiichi Sankyo Company, which has its headquarters in Japan. They said the results of its trial of Enhertu were “groundbreaking” and showed “a strong trend towards improved overall survival.” The Independent 

More than 40,000 people die every year in Europe because of a lack of green space research reveals

More than 40,000 people die every year in Europe because of a lack of green space research reveals A lack of green spaces in UK cities is killing 7,000 people in the UK every year, a study claims. 

Scientists calculated that nearly 43,000 premature deaths are caused by a lack of green spaces in nearly 900 European cities. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Green space and mortality in European cities: a health impact assessment study (open access) The Lancet Planetary Health

GP staff abuse has "no place in the NHS"

GP staff abuse has "no place in the NHS" The abuse of staff at GP surgeries has "no place in the NHS", a healthcare boss has said, following complaints it has risen during the pandemic.

Dr Joanne Watt, GP chairwoman of the Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said she understood patients' frustrations as surgeries battle with increased demand.

But she said the reports of abuse were "extremely upsetting and demoralising". BBC Northampton

'Don't ask Google, ask a doctor' experts' tell Northamptonshire teens in two minds about Covid jabs

'Don't ask Google, ask a doctor' experts' tell Northamptonshire teens in two minds about Covid jabs Teenagers in two minds over getting a Covid jab are being told to talk to health professionals in Northamptonshire rather than turn to Google.

All 16 and 17-year-olds can now book vaccinations on the NHS website as well as drop in at a number of walk-in clinics across the county. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid-19: Teachers isolating more of a concern, head says BBC Northampton
• What is Covid toe? Symptoms of side effect from virus - and what causes the skin condition Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Giving kids second jab could prevent thousands of long Covid cases Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid vaccines for NHS frontline staff ‘to be made compulsory’ under Health Secretary Sajid Javid plans Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Burton Latimer man's second jab despair as county clinics out of AstraZeneca vaccine Northamptonshire Telegraph

Podcast about life behind the scenes at Northampton mental health hospital reaches 20,000 downloads

Podcast about life behind the scenes at Northampton mental health hospital reaches 20,000 downloads A Northampton mental health nurse's podcast about his service users and colleagues created in a bid to break down stigmas has reached 20,000 downloads.

John-Barry Waldron was inspired to start On The Ward in 2019 by the people he has cared for for 15 years at St Andrew's Healthcare's centre in Billing Road. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Police confirm 23 reports of believed drink spiking in nine Northampton venues since start of September

Police confirm 23 reports of believed drink spiking in nine Northampton venues since start of September Detectives have confirmed more reports from people who believe their drinks may have been spiked during nights out in Northampton.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman confirmed on Wednesday (October 6) they are now investigating a total of 23 cases where men and women who have suffered a range of ill-effects after drinking alcohol in the town, some requiring medical attention. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

How has the productivity of UK health care changed between 1997 and 2019?

How has the productivity of UK health care changed between 1997 and 2019? Between 1997 and 2018, productivity across the UK NHS grew by 22%, at an average of around 0.9% per year.​

This is higher than the total productivity of the public sector (0.2%) but lower than that of the whole UK economy (1.2%).​ The Health Foundation 

Workforce shortages in mental health cause 'painfully' long waits for treatment

Workforce shortages in mental health cause 'painfully' long waits for treatment Record numbers of people need mental health treatment but there aren’t enough psychiatrists to meet demand, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 2021 census has revealed.

At least 1.5 million people in England are waiting for treatment but a tenth of consultant psychiatrist posts (568 out of 5,367) are not filled. The vacancies are causing some patients to wait 18 weeks or longer for treatment.

Official NHS workforce data shows that there are 4,500 full-time consultant psychiatrists for 56.5 million people, one psychiatrist per 12,567.

See also: 

• Pre-report data of the 2021 census Royal College of Psychiatrists
• More than one million waiting for mental health treatment with one in 10 doctor posts empty The Independent
• 'One psychiatrist per 12,567 people in England': Medics' mental health workforce warning Sky News

NHS pay in England: members to consider industrial action

NHS pay in England: members to consider industrial action RCN members working for the NHS in England on Agenda for Change contracts are to be asked whether they’d be willing to take industrial action in an indicative ballot launching soon. Royal College of Nursing

See also: 

•  Nurses in England to be balloted on possible strike action over pay The Guardian
• NHS pay row: nurses move one step closer to strike action over 3 per cent rise iNews

Respected valued retained: working together to improve retention in anaesthesia

Respected valued retained: working together to improve retention in anaesthesia This report finds that up to one million operations may be delayed every year because of a shortage of 1,400 anaesthetists – and concludes that the situation will get worse, as one in four working anaesthetists plans to leave the NHS in the next five years. It suggests that working patterns should be adjusted to accommodate the changes of ageing and that adjustments should be made to pension and tax arrangements to address the financial pressures that force doctors to retire. Royal College of Anaesthetists 

Historic go-ahead for malaria vaccine to protect African children

Historic go-ahead for malaria vaccine to protect African children Children across much of Africa are to be vaccinated against malaria in a historic moment in the fight against the deadly disease.

Malaria has been one of the biggest scourges on humanity for millennia and mostly kills babies and infants.

Having a vaccine - after more than a century of trying - is among medicine's greatest achievements.

The vaccine - called RTS,S - was proven effective six years ago. BBC News 

Two Covid vaccines give BETTER protection than natural immunity, study claims

Two Covid vaccines give BETTER protection than natural immunity, study claims Covid vaccines offer better protection than natural immunity, researchers claimed today.

The true extent of immunity against the coronavirus remains shrouded in mystery.

Some studies have suggested getting infected naturally offers more protection than any vaccines. The Daily Mail

See also:

• UK's daily Covid cases RISE for first time in a week: 9% jump sees 39,851 infections  The Daily Mail
• Schools will not reintroduce bubble system, says education minister - but masks could return The Daily Telegraph
• UK on brink of joining EU Covid vaccine passport scheme The Daily Telegraph
• England’s Covid travel red list to be cut to a dozen countries The Guardian
• More than 1 million reporting long Covid symptoms, ONS data shows The Independent
• JCVI faces calls for greater transparency over vaccine decision-making The Independent
• NHS leaders warn ministers they will create 'vaccine martyrs' if Covid jabs are made compulsory iNews

3 years of city living raises risk of heart failure by 43%, due to noise and air pollution, study

3 years of city living raises risk of heart failure by 43%, due to noise and air pollution, study Living in a bustling city for just three years may raise your risk of heart failure, a study suggests.

A damning body of evidence on the detriment pollution causes to health has built up over the past decade, with toxic air heavily linked to dementia, obesity, infertility and a host of other medical issues. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Long‐Term Exposure to Air Pollution, Road Traffic Noise, and Heart Failure Incidence: The Danish Nurse Cohort (open access) Journal of the American Heart Association

Return on investment of overseas nurse recruitment: lessons for the NHS

Return on investment of overseas nurse recruitment: lessons for the NHS The recruitment of nurses from overseas is vital for securing the staff we need in order to meet ambitious national goals to expand the workforce - but what are the costs and benefits? This major new research briefing commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement explores the business case for overseas recruitment and looks at the factors that attract or deter nurses from choosing to work in the UK. Nuffield Trust 

What happened to those Brexit medicines shortages?

What happened to those Brexit medicines shortages? Before the UK left the EU’s single market at the start of this year, many warned of the risk of medical supply shortages. But did that prove to be the case? Mark Dayan takes a closer look at what’s happened since January 1st, and looks ahead to what might happen in future. Nuffield Trust 

Comparing nations on timeliness and coordination of health care

Comparing nations on timeliness and coordination of health care Aging populations present major challenges to health care systems around the world. The 2021 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey, conducted among adults age 65 and older between March and June 2021, provides insights about how well U.S. seniors fare relative to older adults in ten other high-income countries (including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands). Commonwealth Fund

Secondary use of health data in Europe

Secondary use of health data in Europe This report (and accompanying interactive tool) compares the policy readiness of countries across Europe for the secondary use of health data, and identifies good practice across the region. The pandemic has shown us the value of bringing together population health data from multiple sources. But efforts to share health data across European countries is currently very fragmented. Secondary use of health data can play a crucial role in improving health systems. Open Data Institute

The cost of eating disorders

The cost of eating disorders This report highlights the cost of eating disorders in the UK, in terms of financial costs to the NHS, the financial, social and emotional impact on individuals, families and wider society, and in terms of the ongoing loss of lives to illnesses that can be treated but that are currently subject to severe underfunding and lack of services. The Hearts Minds and Genes Coalition for Eating Disorders 

Study reveals why some people get Covid toe condition

Study reveals why some people get Covid toe condition Scientists believe they can explain why some people who catch Covid develop chilblain-like lesions on their toes and even fingers.

Covid toe appears to be a side effect of the body switching into attack mode to fight off the virus.

The researchers say they have pinpointed the parts of the immune system that appear to be involved. BBC News

See also:

• Type I interferon response and vascular alteration in chilblain-like lesions during the COVID-19 outbreak (abstract, article available to Trust staff with an OpenAthens account) British Journal of Dermatology
• School Covid absences rise two-thirds in fortnight BBC News
• Covid: Novavax jab volunteer's 'regret' over trial approval wait BBC News
• London's Nightingale hospital 'did not have the systems of care we needed' The Daily Mail
• One in 40 children - 200,000 - were off school in England due to Covid last week The Daily Mail
• UK ‘more vulnerable’ to winter Covid surge than European neighbours The Independent
• Covid vaccine set to be mandatory for all frontline NHS workers under plans by Sajid Javid iNews
• NHS doctors use TikTok in ‘powerhouse effort’ to encourage Covid vaccine take-up Yahoo News UK

NHS dentistry access delays: 'I pulled 11 of my own teeth out'

NHS dentistry access delays: 'I pulled 11 of my own teeth out' The Covid pandemic has left dental practices with severe backlogs of patients needing appointments, and dentists are saying they are being forced to take on more private work to survive. How bad is the current situation in dental care? BBC News 

GPs are ignoring ‘red flag’ signs of cancer, study finds

GPs are ignoring ‘red flag’ signs of cancer, study finds GPs are failing to urgently refer patients with “red flag” signs of suspected cancer to a specialist, research suggests.

Six out of 10 patients in England with key symptoms indicating possible cancer did not receive an urgent referral for specialist assessment within two weeks, as recommended in clinical guidelines, according to a new study. The Guardian

See also: 

• Concordance with urgent referral guidelines in patients presenting with any of six ‘alarm’ features of possible cancer: a retrospective cohort study using linked primary care records (open access) BMJ Quality and Safety

Sajid Javid says pretending the NHS is the 'best at everything' won't help ANYONE

Sajid Javid says pretending the NHS is the 'best at everything' won't help ANYONE Pretending the NHS is the 'best at everything' will not help anyone, Sajid Javid said today as he committed to driving down England's record-high waiting lists.

In his 100th day in the job, the Health Secretary said accepting the NHS's flaws was the first step in chopping down the backlog that has amassed during the pandemic. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• NHS bosses 'face sack for failing to cut waiting lists' The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid: patients on waiting lists need not go private as ‘NHS can manage’ The Guardian
• Sajid Javid says people should turn to family before NHS The Independent
• Sajid Javid says one of his priorities is to tackle 'huge NHS backlog' Sky News

One in ten will have diabetes by 2030: Shock warning as obesity crisis doubles number with disease

One in ten will have diabetes by 2030: Shock warning as obesity crisis doubles number with disease One in ten adults are expected to have diabetes by 2030, with the nation facing a ‘ticking timebomb’, experts warned yesterday.

Levels of diabetes have doubled in the past 15 years as a result of spiralling obesity rates, creating ‘a public health emergency’, the charity Diabetes UK said. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• One in ten adults living with diabetes by 2030 Diabetes UK

Covid: Northamptonshire children, 12-15, urged to get jabs

Covid: Northamptonshire children, 12-15, urged to get jabs Parents have been urged to allow their 12 to 15-year-olds to get a Covid jab in a county with some of the highest case rates in England.

In the week to 29 September, Kettering in Northamptonshire had the highest rate and Daventry the fifth highest.

Corby, Northampton and Wellingborough were also in the top 20 by district. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Giving kids second jab could prevent thousands of long Covid cases Northamptonshire Telegraph

KGH's plans to make sure it doesn't run out of beds this winter

KGH's plans to make sure it doesn't run out of beds this winter Kettering General Hospital bosses have outlined plans to make sure they have enough beds for sick patients as they prepare for a tough winter. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Cuts to public health run counter to levelling up, say leading health organisations

Cuts to public health run counter to levelling up, say leading health organisations The Health Foundation and the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) are today calling on the government to increase funding for public health following years of underinvestment.

New analysis published today by the Health Foundation reveals that the public health grant has been cut by 24% in real terms per capita since 2015/16 (equivalent to a reduction of £1bn).

See also: 

• Health funding cut said to threaten levelling up BBC News

The recipe for success at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities: tackling the wider determinants of health

The recipe for success at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities: tackling the wider determinants of health How can the new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities maximise its chances of success? Sally Warren thinks the answer is building its influence across Whitehall, and across regions and local areas to tackle the wider determinants of health. The King's Fund 

What every board member needs to know about improvement and quality assurance

What every board member needs to know about improvement and quality assurance This report, produced together with Perfect Ward, is intended to guide and support boards in developing and maintaining robust quality assurance and improvement processes within their organisations. It contains a maturity matrix, a practical tool to support boards in assessing levels of maturity within their organisations against key identified criteria and identifying the steps they need to take to progress the maturity of their organisations. The report also provides best practice examples and key questions to help boards translate theory into practice. Good Governance Institute 

Solving the puzzle: delivering on the promise of integration in health and care

Solving the puzzle: delivering on the promise of integration in health and care This report reviews the Health and Care Bill and suggests the proposed reforms could be a ‘turning point’ in the drive towards a more integrated health care system. However, it warns that improved outcomes will only be delivered if combined with changes to the way health care is organised and how services work together. Institute for Public Policy Research 

New Every Mind Matters campaign to improve people's mental health

New Every Mind Matters campaign to improve people's mental health A new campaign has been launched to help people with their mental wellbeing.

The general public is urged to find “what works for me” to support their mental wellbeing as the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) launches the latest  Better Health – Every Mind Matters (EMM) campaign. Department of Health and Social Care 

Brain implant may lift most severe depression

Brain implant may lift most severe depression An electrical implant that sits in the skull and is wired to the brain can detect and treat severe depression, US scientists believe after promising results with a first patient.

Sarah, who is 36, had the device fitted more than a year ago and says it has turned her life around.

The matchbox-sized pack in her head is always "on" but only delivers an impulse when it senses she may need it. BBC News

See also: 

• Closed-loop neuromodulation in an individual with treatment-resistant depression (open access) Nature Medicine

'Concerning' research finds number of 11 to 16-year-olds with problems eating has almost doubled

'Concerning' research finds number of 11 to 16-year-olds with problems eating has almost doubled The proportion of older children who experience problems with eating has almost doubled in four years, new research has shown.

A survey by NHS Digital found that 13% of 11 to 16-year-olds raised concerns about eating compared with just 7% in 2017. Sky News 

Number of women not being screened for breast cancer ‘rises by half’

Number of women not being screened for breast cancer ‘rises by half’ The number of women in the UK who have not been screened for breast cancer rose by 50 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a charity.

Before March 2020, there were about one million women eligible for NHS screening who were not being checked for signs of the disease, Breast Cancer Now said. The Independent

See also: 

• Breast screening and coronavirus: up to 1.5 million fewer women seen by screening services since they restarted Breast Cancer Now

Eight-week-old baby died after hospital’s ‘catalogue of failings’, NHS inquiry finds

Eight-week-old baby died after hospital’s ‘catalogue of failings’, NHS inquiry finds Bristol Children’s hospital tried to ‘deceive’ Ben Condon’s parents about his death, NHS ombudsman says

An eight-week-old baby died after “a catalogue of failings” in his treatment at a children’s hospital, which then tried to “deceive” his parents about his death, an official inquiry has found. The Guardian

See also: 

• ‘A deliberate attempt to deceive’: Hospital criticised over baby death The Independent

NHS England to offer breakthrough treatment for sickle cell disease

NHS England to offer breakthrough treatment for sickle cell disease Thousands of patients in England are to benefit from the first treatment for sickle cell disease in two decades, the NHS has announced.

Crizanlizumab, a “revolutionary” life-changing drug treatment, is delivered by a transfusion drip and works by binding to a protein in the blood cells to prevent the restriction of blood and oxygen supply. The Guardian

See also:

• First new treatment for sickle cell in 20 years BBC News
• New hope for sickle cell disease as first drug in 20 years is approved The Independent

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective against hospitalization for first six months

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective against hospitalization for first six months Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine remains effective at preventing hospitalizations for at least six months, a new study suggests..

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) gathered data from the company's health care network to discover how often fully vaccinated people were either testing positive for the virus or being hospitalized because of it. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine up to 6 months in a large integrated health system in the USA: a retrospective cohort study (open access) The Lancet

How Covid vaccine is saving lives and keeping people out of Northamptonshire hospitals

How Covid vaccine is saving lives and keeping people out of Northamptonshire hospitals Experts believe Northamptonshire hopsitals are dealing with up to 75 per cent fewer Covid-19 patients thanks to more than one million vaccinations.

The number of Covid patients sadly dying in Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital has dropped by nearly 70 per cent compared to the second wave in January. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid: Five drop-in clinics open in Northamptonshire BBC Northampton
• Whole year group learning from home as staff absences bite at Northampton secondary school Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Unreal': One in 16 Kettering children test positive for Covid in a week as school cases rise Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Covid cases quadruple among Northamptonshire students but health chief says virus is NOT spreading inside schools Northamptonshire Telegraph

Councillors set to give new Kettering private hospital green light

Councillors set to give new Kettering private hospital green light A bid to build a new private hospital on the edge of Kettering looks set to be approved. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Investigation launched after fourth 'never event' this year at Northamptonshire hospital

Investigation launched after fourth 'never event' this year at Northamptonshire hospital Northamptonshire hospital chiefs have apologised to a patient after mixing up their medication and administering it the wrong way.

A patient at Kettering General Hospital needed medication which should have been taken orally.

But hospital staff wrongly gave them the dose through a peripherally inserted central catheter. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton health expert highlights impact inequalities can have on mental health

Northampton health expert highlights impact inequalities can have on mental health Exposure to inequalities in society can have a dramatic impact on peoples’ mental health, a top researcher from Northampton has found.

Speaking at the start of National Inclusion Week, a team led by Dr Kieran Breen, Head of Research and Innovation at St Andrew’s Healthcare, has reported that inequalities experienced by people in their daily lives can have a huge impact on their mental health. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health and social care funding projections 2021

Health and social care funding projections 2021 This report presents the REAL Centre’s projections of future health and social care funding requirements, both for the next 3 years and longer term funding to 2030/31.

The report sets out what it may cost the government to fund the NHS and social care system in England along with workforce requirements over the next 10 years. The projections are based on underlying funding pressures – such as population size and age structure – and additional funding pressures, such as policy choices,  The Health Foundation

See also:

• Over a million more health and care staff needed in the next decade to meet growing demand for care The Health Foundation
• How much does the NHS and social care workforce need to grow by over the next decade to meet demand? The Health Foundation
• England’s NHS and care services need 1.1m extra staff by 2031, finds study The Guardian

The long shadow of Covid-19 - addressing the wider impacts of the pandemic

The long shadow of Covid-19 - addressing the wider impacts of the pandemic When we talked with directors of public health for our research into their experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic, one topic we wanted to hear about was its indirect impacts. From their position in local authorities, directors have a broad view across not just the roll out of health protection measures, but also the wider implications of the pandemic and the response to these for the populations they serve. They raised a breadth of issues with us. The King's Fund

Mental health in prisons

Mental health in prisons This report finds that a disjointed and incoherent approach to care has left many prisoners suffering from mental health issues undiagnosed and unable to access care. It calls on the NHS, Ministry of Justice and the Prison and Probation Service to implement a system of integrated care, that improves identification of mental health issues, provides seamless care while in prison and supports transition to care in community settings on release. House of Commons Justice Committee

RCM warns of midwife exodus as maternity staffing crisis grows

RCM warns of midwife exodus as maternity staffing crisis grows Midwives are being driven out of the NHS by understaffing and fears they can’t deliver safe care to women in the current system, according to a new survey of its members by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

The College is warning of a ‘midwife exodus’ as it publishes the results of its annual member experiences of work survey. Over half of midwives surveyed said they were considering leaving their job as a midwife with 57% saying they would leave the NHS in the next year.

See also:

• UK facing midwife exodus as more than half want to quit The Daily Mail
• Poor staffing and safety fears is driving midwives out of the NHS The Independent

Government launches landmark review of health and social care leadership

Government launches landmark review of health and social care leadership The government has launched a review of leadership in health and social care. The review will be led by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger, and will report back to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid, in early 2022. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to the Government’s review of leadership in health and social care The King's Fund
• Tories order biggest shake-up of NHS leadership in England for 40 years The Guardian
• Ex-military chief to oversee shake-up of NHS leadership The Independent

40 community diagnostic centres launching across England

40 community diagnostic centres launching across England Millions of patients will benefit from earlier diagnostic tests closer to home thanks to 40 new community diagnostic centres set to open across England in a range of settings from local shopping centres to football stadiums. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Delay of third jabs for most vulnerable criticised

Covid: Delay of third jabs for most vulnerable criticised The rollout of third doses of Covid vaccines for vulnerable people with weak immune systems has gone "badly wrong", say charities.

Vaccine experts recommended on 1 September that immunosuppressed patients should be given the extra dose to give them fuller protection.

But Kidney Care UK and Blood Cancer UK say many are still waiting. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid antiviral pill can halve risk of hospitalisation BBC News
• Covid: Care home staff should get the jab or another job - Javid BBC News
• Covid: One in 20 secondary-age children infected in England BBC News
• Covid-19 vaccinations: More than 50 nations have missed a target set by the WHO BBC News
• What can you do to recover your sense of smell after contracting Covid-19? The Daily Mail
• Vaccine uptake has stalled at 55% in 16 to 18-year-olds, official data shows The Daily Mail
• Flu and Covid jabs safe to be given at same time, study finds The Guardian
• NHS trust apologises to families of patients who died after catching Covid at hospital The Independent

Bowel cancer patients fear cost of break in treatment

Bowel cancer patients fear cost of break in treatment Bowel cancer patients are scared to take a break from their treatment because they might end up having to pay for it, campaigners say.

Patients are only eligible for two specialist drugs on the NHS if they do not have a break of six weeks or more. BBC News

Doctors, receptionists and practice teams quit after wave of hostility over GP appointments

Doctors, receptionists and practice teams quit after wave of hostility over GP appointments Senior doctors have warned that practice staff and GPs are quitting after an unprecedented and escalating wave of abuse from patients that has followed weeks of public pressure over face-to-face appointments.

Practice managers, receptionists and doctors have spoken of daily confrontations with patients over issues including appointments, vaccinations and blood tests. The Guardian

Nearly a quarter of callers to NHS helpline give up after being left on hold

Nearly a quarter of callers to NHS helpline give up after being left on hold Nearly one in four callers to the NHS’s advice line for urgent health needs are giving up while trying to get through, with people kept on hold for nearly 25 minutes in north-east England, the Observer can reveal.

Depression rates are dropping... but they're still nearly twice as high as they were pre-Covid

Depression rates are dropping... but they're still nearly twice as high as they were pre-Covid Rates of depression in Britain are starting to fall after shooting up during the Covid pandemic, official data shows.

The Office for National Statistics estimated that 10 per cent of adults in the UK were depressed before the virus first struck.

This more than doubled to a record 21 per cent last winter after two brutal waves of the epidemic and three lockdowns, with women and young people worst affected. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Coronavirus and depression in adults in Great Britain Office for National Statistics

Getting flu jab for six years in a row cuts risk of developing dementia by 14%

Getting flu jab for six years in a row cuts risk of developing dementia by 14% Having the flu vaccine every winter could significantly reduce the risk of dementia, a study suggests.

The jab lowered the chances of developing the incurable condition by 14 per cent.

But it seems to work only when patients have had it for at least six years in a row. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Dementia risk following influenza vaccination in a large veteran cohort (abstract) Vaccine

Covid: Kettering's high rate 'not all about children'

Covid: Kettering's high rate 'not all about children' Cases of Covid-19 have almost doubled in Kettering, making it the area with the highest number of new positive tests per 100,000 people in the country. Why are numbers in the Northamptonshire town so high? BBC Northampton

University of Northampton urges students to stay safe during Freshers Week amid series of reported drink spikings at town centre nightspots

University of Northampton urges students to stay safe during Freshers Week amid series of reported drink spikings at town centre nightspots The University of Northampton has called on its students to stay safe on nights out amid a series of drink spiking cases at nightspots in the town centre.

Around seven drink spiking incidents have been reported at town centre venues since the beginning of September. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Northampton club boss reiterates extensive security measures taken to combat a series of drink spikings in town Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Covid-19: healing the people who cared for us

Covid-19: healing the people who cared for us Much has already been written about living through Covid-19 and its impact on health and care staff. Among the harrowing tales, many positives have been captured about the experience, including the speed with which changes were adopted; how people coalesced around a shared sense of purpose; and how decisions were taken at the front line, closer to the patient. It is easy, and perhaps sloppy, to conclude from this that everyone has debriefed, that life is already moving on, and that some improved version of past reality can now be restored. But is that really the case? The King's Fund 

Whistleblowing report from healthcare regulators

Whistleblowing report from healthcare regulators The General Medical Council (GMC) has joined seven other healthcare regulators including the NMC and HCPC, to publish an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures. 

Perinatal mental health services: recommendations for the provision of services for childbearing women

Perinatal mental health services: recommendations for the provision of services for childbearing women This report summarises the latest evidence base for the extent and impact of perinatal mental disorder and opportunities for intervention. It sets out: best practice principles; guidance on effective interventions; and workforce recommendations. Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Building back inclusively: radical approaches to tackling the elective backlog

Building back inclusively: radical approaches to tackling the elective backlog This briefing recommends radical, whole-system changes to tackle the elective backlog inclusively. Aimed at healthcare leaders overseeing elective recovery, as well as policymakers with the levers to effect change, it puts forward ten practical measures to manage the backlog. NHS Confederation

See also: 

• Manifesto for recovery: the health and care system after Covid-19  NHS Confederation
• Building back inclusively: the evidence NHS Confederation

Government seeks views on contingency proposals for certification

Government seeks views on contingency proposals for certification The government has published the policy proposal for mandatory vaccine certification as a contingency measure under the government’s Autumn and Winter Plan.

As set out by the Prime Minister on 14 September, mandatory vaccine-only certification could potentially be introduced in certain settings as part of ‘Plan B’. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: People are vaccinated - so why are there so many cases?

Covid: People are vaccinated - so why are there so many cases? More than four out of five adults in the UK have now had two jabs, but reported daily Covid cases remain high.

Millions of people will get booster vaccines this autumn - while healthy children aged 12-15 are being offered single doses. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: What's the 'Winter Plan' and what are the rules across the UK? BBC News
• Vitamin-A treatment trial for Covid loss of smell BBC News
• Covid: Boris Johnson makes inquiry pledge to bereaved families BBC News
• Britain's Covid cases rise by 10% in a week to 34,526 The Daily Mail
• Vaccine passports could be required in England in a wide range of venues under No10's Covid 'Plan B' The Daily Mail
• Third of Covid patients diagnosed with at least one long-term symptom The Independent
• Smokers more likely to end up in hospital or die with Covid The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS director alerts parents to fake vaccine consent letters Sky News

People also suffer 'long flu', study shows

People also suffer 'long flu', study shows People who have fallen ill with flu can suffer long-term symptoms in a similar way to long Covid, a study suggests.

The Oxford University research analysed health records of people diagnosed with flu and Covid, mainly in the US.

The two groups - both with just over 100,000 patients - included people seeking healthcare for symptoms three to six months after infection. BBC News

See also: 

• Incidence, co-occurrence, and evolution of long-COVID features: A 6-month retrospective cohort study of 273,618 survivors of COVID-19 (open access) PLoS Medicine

NHS Highland pays out millions to bullied staff

NHS Highland pays out millions to bullied staff NHS Highland says it expects to pay £3.4m in settlements to current and former staff who have complained of bullying.

Whistleblowers exposed a "culture of bullying" at NHS Highland in 2018.

A Scottish government-commissioned review suggested hundreds of health workers may have experienced inappropriate behaviour. BBC News 

Fuel crisis leading to cancellations of NHS cancer appointments

Fuel crisis leading to cancellations of NHS cancer appointments The postponement of NHS appointments for some cancer patients because of the fuel crisis will heap additional pressure on patients and their families, charities have warned.

The Guardian learned that several cancer patients due to attend appointments this week at University College hospital (UCLH), one of London’s largest hospitals, have been told they will have to be rescheduled. 

Air pollution causes almost 6MILLION premature births around the world every year, study finds

Air pollution causes almost 6MILLION premature births around the world every year, study finds Air pollution may have contributed to almost 6million premature births and nearly 3million babies being born underweight around the world in 2019, a study claims.

And it wasn't just pollution from traffic or power plants, which have commonly been thought to be the biggest source of toxic air. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Ambient and household PM2.5 pollution and adverse perinatal outcomes: A meta-regression and analysis of attributable global burden for 204 countries and territories (open access) PLoS Medicine

Covid: Kettering sees case rates nearly double in a week

Covid: Kettering sees case rates nearly double in a week Secondary school-aged children have been urged to stay at home if their parents suspect they have Covid as cases soar in a Northamptonshire town.

Kettering, which currently has the highest infection rate in England, has seen cases nearly double within a week.

The Northamptonshire town saw 960 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 23 September. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Kettering's Covid rate goes through the roof as 'simply shocking' school infections soar Northamptonshire Telegraph

Annual hospital outpatient report

Annual hospital outpatient report NHS Digital has published annual outpatient figures, covering outpatient activity in the NHS and NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector.

Included in the Hospital Outpatient Activity 2020-21 report is the number of outpatient appointments in 2020/21, broken down into patients that attended and did not attend. Further breakdowns of gender and age are also included. 

National AI strategy

National AI strategy This strategy builds on the UK’s strengths but also represents the start of a step-change for AI in the UK, recognising the power of AI to increase resilience, productivity, growth and innovation across the private and public sectors. Office for Artificial Intelligence 

Policy paper: Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario

Policy paper: Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario This document fulfils the commitment, set out in the Autumn and Winter Plan, to provide organisations with more detail about the proposed certification regime that would be introduced as part of Plan B. Department of Health and Social Care 

UKHSA publishes new recommendations for COVID-19 infection prevention and control

UKHSA publishes new recommendations for COVID-19 infection prevention and control UKHSA has recommended 3 pragmatic changes to the current management of COVID-19 IPC measures, with a focus on elective care. UK Health Security Agency

See also: 

• Hospitals in England can relax Covid rules to treat more patients BBC News
• Addenbrooke's Hospital: A&E patients made to wait in car park BBC News
• Covid: 'I lost my daughter to cancer after the pandemic paused chemotherapy' BBC News
• Covid UK: NHS hospitals are told to drop restrictions to help clear backlog The Daily Mail
• Hospitals in England relax Covid rules to help tackle waiting lists The Guardian

Most teenagers willing to have Covid jab - study

Most teenagers willing to have Covid jab - study Half of children and young people aged nine to 18 are willing or eager to be vaccinated against Covid, a large survey in England suggests.

It is one of the first polls to ask pupils, rather than parents, their views on teenage Covid jabs.

Carried out during the summer term, the responses from more than 27,000 students at 180 schools reveal half would opt to get protected. BBC News

See also: 

• Willingness of children and adolescents to have a COVID-19 vaccination: Results of a large whole schools survey in England (open access) EClinicalMedicine
• What it's like to be a nine-year-old in a vaccine clinical trial BBC News
• Schools warn about hoax anti-vaccine letters BBC News
• Mothers can pass Covid antibodies onto their babies via breastmilk for up to 10 MONTHS, study finds The Daily Mail
• People who don't wear face masks are up to TWICE as likely to test positive for Covid, data suggests The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Cases begin to spill over from children to parents as rates rise in 35-50 year olds The Daily Mail

Health workers should be given priority access to fuel in UK, says senior doctor

Health workers should be given priority access to fuel in UK, says senior doctor No 10 is facing calls to give ambulance drivers, healthcare staff and other essential workers priority access to fuel after panic buying caused shortages across the UK.

With ministers due to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss the growing crisis, the British Medical Association (BMA) called for emergency measures to let medical staff fill up, warning that as pumps run dry “there is a real risk that NHS staff won’t be able to do their jobs”. The Guardian 

'Explosive' jump in autism as number of children on the spectrum rises eight-fold in 20 years

'Explosive' jump in autism as number of children on the spectrum rises eight-fold in 20 years Autism diagnoses in England have soared nearly eight-fold in the past two decades, a study has shown. 

UK researchers said the 'explosive' rise was likely due to increased awareness and screening for the condition. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Time trends in autism diagnosis over 20 years: a UK population-based cohort study (open access) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Northamptonshire hospitals see number of Covid patients double in four weeks

Northamptonshire hospitals see number of Covid patients double in four weeks Hospital chiefs fear more pressure piling on to local NHS services after the number of Covid patients needing treatment more than doubled in a month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid vaccine rollout begins on Monday for Northamptonshire secondary school students Northamptonshire Telegraph
• England unlikely to need ‘full-blown lockdown’ this winter, leading expert says Northamptonshire Telegraph

What's the plan for ambulances to get through traffic chaos outside Northampton General Hospital?

What's the plan for ambulances to get through traffic chaos outside Northampton General Hospital? Three-month major roadworks near Northampton General Hospital (NGH) have caused standstill traffic during the rush hours this week - but is there a plan for emergency vehicles to get in and out of NGH? Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northants hospitals warning over scam texts inviting patients for operations

Northants hospitals warning over scam texts inviting patients for operations Northampton General Hospital has issued vital information for customers on how to identify a real NHS text from a scam.

The Northamptonshire hospital has offered the advice with patients being increasingly contacted by their doctors by text. Northants Live 

Northants care workers paid the lowest wage in the country - as pay talks continue for Corby home care staff

Northants care workers paid the lowest wage in the country - as pay talks continue for Corby home care staff Figures analysed by our sister news site NationalWorld showed that council-employed carers across Northamptonshire are paid the lowest wages in the whole country. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Tackling the elective backlog – exploring the relationship between deprivation and waiting times

Tackling the elective backlog – exploring the relationship between deprivation and waiting times Long waiting times and growing waiting lists for hospital treatment have been a problem for some time, but now the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue and waiting lists have grown rapidly. As with other aspects of the pandemic, this has not been experienced equally. Our analysis of waiting list data shows a clear relationship with deprivation, which sees those living in the most deprived areas nearly twice as likely to wait more than a year for treatment compared to those living in the least deprived areas. The King's Fund

See also: 

• NHS waits: More people feeling forced into private healthcare BBC News
• Agony for half of over-50s as it emerges thousands are waiting for surgery amid crisis in the NHS The Daily Mail
• NHS backlog disproportionately affecting England’s most deprived The Guardian

Elective care: how has COVID-19 affected the waiting list?

Elective care: how has COVID-19 affected the waiting list? This analysis looks at what we know about the waiting list for elective care in England.

While the NHS delivered a remarkable amount of elective treatment during the pandemic, the pressure of caring for large numbers of patients seriously unwell with COVID-19 has led to the waiting list for elective care reaching the highest level since current records began.

Data show that 6 million fewer people completed elective care pathways between January 2020 and July 2021 than would have been expected based on pre-pandemic numbers. The Health Foundation

How primary care is delivering for patients

How primary care is delivering for patients This infographic demonstrates how primary care teams in England have been supporting patients. NHS Confederation 

Consultation on the future regulation of medical devices in the United Kingdom

Consultation on the future regulation of medical devices in the United Kingdom The MHRA is inviting members of the public to provide their views on possible changes to the regulatory framework for medical devices in the United Kingdom. The MHRA wants to develop a future regime for medical devices which enables: improved patient and public safety; greater transparency of regulatory decision making and medical device information; close alignment with international best practice and; more flexible, responsive and proportionate regulation of medical devices. It welcomes the views of patients, medical device researchers, developers, manufacturers and suppliers, clinicians, other healthcare professionals and the wider public to help shape the MHRA’s future approach to regulating medical devices in the UK. This consultation closes on 25 November 2021. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

People aged 16 and 17 urged to get lifesaving COVID vaccine as NHS bookings open

People aged 16 and 17 urged to get lifesaving COVID vaccine as NHS bookings open People aged 16 and 17 are able to book their COVID-19 jabs through the National Booking Service from today as the NHS vaccination programme pulls out all the stops to protect people ahead of winter.

Almost three quarters of a million young people in England – around 60% – have already received their vaccine thanks to the NHS ‘Grab a Jab’ campaign, where the NHS online site finder helps people find their nearest walk-in vaccine clinic. NHS England