Delta 'Plus' Covid variant may be more transmissible

Delta 'Plus' Covid variant may be more transmissible A new mutated form of coronavirus that some are calling "Delta Plus" may spread more easily than regular Delta, UK experts now say.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has moved it up into the "variant under investigation" category, to reflect this possible risk.
 
There is no evidence yet that it causes worse illness. BBC News

See also:

• Prepare to trigger Covid Plan B curbs, say scientists BBC News
• Covid: Protect schools from anti-vax protests - Starmer BBC News
• Ros Atkins on… Rising Covid cases in the UK BBC News
• Doctors accuse No10 of 'wilful negligence' for ruling out masks and WFH The Daily Mail
• UK daily Covid hospitalisations hit 1,000 for first time in six weeks The Daily Mail
• Almost one in 50 people now have Covid in England, official figures reveal The Daily Mail
• Ministers to ramp up Covid vaccine rollout as hospitalisations rise The Guardian
• ‘Darker skies and colder weather provide perfect conditions... for Covid-19 to thrive’ The Guardian
• UK government paves way to bring in tough ‘plan B’ Covid rules The Guardian
• UK facing ‘another lockdown Christmas if we don’t act soon’ The Guardian
• Only 8% of UK schools have received air monitors that were promised by government The Guardian
• Sajid Javid says NHS staff who aren't vaccinated against Covid risk 'patient safety' iNews
• COVID-19: Former vaccine chief Dr Emily Lawson returns to NHS amid concerns about pace of booster jabs rollout Sky News

Five charts that show how the NHS is under acute pressure

Five charts that show how the NHS is under acute pressure With rising Covid infections and a big backlog of patients, many in the NHS want action to prevent a winter crisis

The NHS is caring for a rising number of Covid patients at the same time as it deals with a backlog of more than 5.7 million patients in England alone.

The head of the NHS Confederation warned the government this week that it must implement “plan B” winter measures – such as mask wearing and vaccine passports – to help deal with this accumulation of demand. The Guardian

See also: 

• Breaking point: Inside the NHS's looming crisis The Independent
• Sajid Javid risks sparking exodus of NHS managers, union warns The Independent
• It's NHS shortages we need to worry about this Christmas, not turkeys Metro
• COVID-19: NHS 'already in terrible place and struggling to cope', says A&E boss Sky News

NHS maternity services near breaking point, warns top doctor

NHS maternity services near breaking point, warns top doctor The NHS could soon be unable to deliver “the care it needs to” for women giving birth if the surge in Covid cases continues, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has said.

Dr Edward Morris, the UK’s most senior gynaecologist, became the latest high-ranking clinician to raise the alarm about the increasing pressures on the health service as Covid cases rise and it battles a huge backlog of 5.7 million patients caused by the first and second waves of the virus. The Guardian 

Rare ‘flesh eating’ STI becoming more common in the UK, says doctor

Rare ‘flesh eating’ STI becoming more common in the UK, says doctor A sexually-transmitted infection that causes angry red ‘flesh-eating’ genital ulcers is becoming more common in the UK, a doctor has warned.

Donovanosis is still extremely rare, with only 20 or 30 cases each year, and is more common in India, South America and Southeast Asia.

However, Dr Shree Datta from MyHealthCare Clinic, said that “figures suggest that Donovanosis ... is becoming more common on these shores.” The Independent 

Northamptonshire reaches 100,000 Covid-19 cases amid warning delays to plan B risks longer NHS hospital waiting lists

Northamptonshire reaches 100,000 Covid-19 cases amid warning delays to plan B risks longer NHS hospital waiting lists Northamptonshire is poised to pass 100,000 positive coronavirus tests since the pandemic began amid growing numbers of hospital patients and deaths nationally. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Northamptonshire NHS mental health helpline receives 100,000 calls in August alone as demand expected to rise

Northamptonshire NHS mental health helpline receives 100,000 calls in August alone as demand expected to rise A 24/7 mental health Helpline in Northamptonshire has seen a sharp rise in demand following the end of national lockdowns.

The number, which launched in March 2020 by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) and the mental health charity Mind, has seen calls increase from an average of 60-a-day in its first three months to as many as 500-a-day by October this year. In August alone there were over 100,000. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Five leaders, five reflections about public health and the Covid-19 pandemic

Five leaders, five reflections about public health and the Covid-19 pandemic Recently we published our report about the experiences of directors of public health (DsPH) in eight different local areas during the Covid-19 pandemic. To take a wider view of England’s emergency response to Covid-19, we also spoke to five other leaders working at either a national or regional level across the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement and Public Health England (just before it was closed and replaced by the UK Health Security Agency and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities). The King's Fund 

Better together: a public health model for mentally healthier integrated care systems

Better together: a public health model for mentally healthier integrated care systems According to this briefing paper, England’s 42 integrated care systems have an opportunity to protect and promote mental health in the communities they serve. The briefing explores how integrated care systems can address the social and environmental factors that affect people’s health in their communities. Centre for Mental Health 

British Social Attitudes 38

British Social Attitudes 38 This year’s British Social Attitudes report examines how two historic events – the arrival of the pandemic and the delivery of Brexit – are shaping public attitudes in Britain. The report finds that in the wake of the pandemic more people think that society is unequal, value flexibility at work, and question the role of law and conformity. National Centre for Social Research 

Increased stability in social care and real collaboration across health and care key to mitigating risk of “tsunami of unmet need”

Increased stability in social care and real collaboration across health and care key to mitigating risk of “tsunami of unmet need” The Care Quality Commission’s annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England looks at the quality of care over the past year – the first of these reports to cover a full year of the pandemic.

This year, the success of the vaccination programme has given hope that the virus can be contained. Alongside this hope, however, is the recognition that COVID-19 will continue to cast a long shadow over all aspects of life, especially the health and care system.

See also:

• Multi-million pound fund to boost adult social care workforce Department of Health and Social Care
• CQC’s report suggests this winter is set to test the health and care system like no other The Health Foundation
• Social care ‘buckling under intense pressure’: The King’s Fund response to CQC State of Care report The King's Fund
• The ongoing workforce crisis in social care needs urgent action ahead of bleak winter Nuffield Trust
• Social care faces tsunami of unmet need - watchdog BBC News
• Tackling inequalities often not a main priority in healthcare, says CQC The Guardian
• Care watchdog warns of ‘tsunami of unmet need’ as Covid cases soar The Independent

Advertising blitz to urge public to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines

Advertising blitz to urge public to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines National advertising campaign steps up today to encourage people to protect themselves and loved ones from COVID and flu this winter. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• NHS invites two million more people for booster jabs NHS England
• NHS opens online COVID-19 vaccination bookings for 12-15 year olds NHS England

Covid: UK cases top 50,000 for first time in three months

Covid: UK cases top 50,000 for first time in three months More than 50,000 Covid cases have been recorded in the UK for the first time since 17 July.

Amid calls for more restrictions, Boris Johnson urged people to come forward for booster jabs when their time comes.

The prime minister said those who become eligible for a third dose of vaccine should organise an appointment straight away. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Brits increasingly lax on masks and social mixing BBC News
• Should the government do more to protect the NHS? BBC News
• Covid: Vaccines '90% effective' at preventing Delta variant deaths BBC News
• Vaccination teams are bringing in flu but NOT Covid jabs to give elderly residents, bosses warn The Daily Mail
• Only two DOZEN parts of England have yet to record a case of new Delta off-shoot The Daily Mail
• Face mask use in adults in their 30s and 40s has risen consistently for eight weeks, data shows The Daily Mail
• The NHS isn't facing another Covid crisis and Sajid Javid knows it The Daily Telegraph
• Covid booster jabs could be brought forward as UK daily cases hit 52,000 The Guardian
• Cancer patients face ‘perfect storm’ as Covid piles pressure on NHS The Guardian
• Anti-vaxxers serve 'legal documents' citing 'Nuremberg Code' to NHS hospital staff The Independent
• COVID-19: Is the UK being too relaxed about coronavirus? Sky News
• COVID-19: Confusion as minister says book booster jabs but NHS says people must be invited Sky News

The NHS leads the world in green healthcare. But it faces a political roadblock

The NHS leads the world in green healthcare. But it faces a political roadblock | Polly Toynbee Staff initiatives have successfully cut emissions, but without serious infrastructure investment there’s nowhere left to go. The Guardian 

GPs ballot for strike action over seeing patients face-to-face

GPs ballot for strike action over seeing patients face-to-face GPs will be balloted about taking industrial action over a Government plan to boost the number of patients seen face-to-face.

Last week ministers announced a £250m fund for GP practices, to help them improve patient access. 

Under the NHS Plan for GPs and Patients, practices were told they must “respect preferences” for in-person appointments and should use the money to extend opening hours or offer walk-in consultations. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• BMA’s England GP committee rejects Government’s rescue package and moves towards a ballot on industrial action BMA
• GPs head for industrial action ballot as BMA backs 'support package' boycott GPonline
• GPs in England threaten industrial action over in-person appointments The Guardian
• Can GPs take industrial action and how might it affect patients? The Guardian

Health chiefs plea for patience as demand for flu jabs ramps up in Northamptonshire

Health chiefs plea for patience as demand for flu jabs ramps up in Northamptonshire Health chiefs are urgently investigating why some people are struggling to get a flu jab in Northamptonshire.

And they have begged residents to remain patient to avoid swamping the system. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Covid: Northampton professor calls for more social restrictions BBC Northampton
• Here's where you can grab a booster jab in Northampton, Corby, Wellingborough and Towcester Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Two new Covid antiviral drugs secured to protect most at-risk this winter Northamptonshire Telegraph

Disabled doctors face disproportionate rate of bullying, finds report

 Disabled doctors face disproportionate rate of bullying, finds report Disabled doctors are more likely to experience bullying and abuse in the workplace, according to recent data published by the health service.

Twenty-six per cent of doctors and other healthcare staff with disabilities said they had faced bullying, harassment and abuse in the past 12 months, compared with 19 per cent of non-disabled during the same time period in England. BMA 

The disease of disparity: a blueprint to make progress on health inequalities in England

The disease of disparity: a blueprint to make progress on health inequalities in England This report identifies six areas where policy needs to change to tackle health inequality, and makes recommendations across the NHS and the socioeconomic drivers of poor health. Combined, these provide a constructive plan to tackle the ‘disease of disparity’ in England – and to achieve the health, social and economic gains possible from addressing health inequality. Institute for Public Policy Research 

UK government secures groundbreaking COVID-19 antivirals

UK government secures groundbreaking COVID-19 antivirals Thousands of vulnerable patients could be taking ground-breaking COVID-19 antivirals this winter after the government announced deals to secure two new treatments.

The deals made by the Antivirals Taskforce are a significant step in its ambition to secure at least two new effective treatments by the end of the year for those who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with the virus. Department of Health and Social Care 

Get Covid jab or restrictions more likely, Sajid Javid says

Get Covid jab or restrictions more likely, Sajid Javid says If not enough people get vaccinated, it is more likely restrictions will be reintroduced in England, the health secretary has said.

Sajid Javid said the government would not be bringing in its Plan B measures, which include mandatory face coverings and working from home, "at this point".

He added that he did not believe the current pressures on the NHS were unsustainable. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Doctors criticise ministers over new rules refusal  BBC News
• Covid: WHO warns pandemic will drag on into 2022  BBC News
• 'Challenges accumulating' for NHS with Covid-19, flu season and overworked staff Channel 4 News
• Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective at preventing death from the Delta variant The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases spike by another 15% in a week to brink of 50,000 The Daily Mail
• A THIRD of mass Covid vaccine hubs in England have been closed amid fears sluggish booster rollout The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid reveals No10 has bought 'game-changing' anti-viral made by pharmaceutical giant Merck The Daily Mail
• Government's SAGE scientists have met just TWICE over the last three months The Daily Mail
• Pupils told to wear face masks in school again as local health officials bring in Covid restrictions The Daily Telegraph
• Javid vows to protect NHS as he says Covid infections could hit 100,000 a day The Guardian
• What Covid measures could a ‘Plan C’ involve? The Independent
• Doctors accuse government of being ‘wilfully negligent’ over Covid The Independent

'People don't see us as humans' – NHS matron on abuse faced by staff

'People don't see us as humans' – NHS matron on abuse faced by staff The prime minister today condemned attacks on NHS staff after hearing from a Midlands MP how over 600 attacks on staff at her local hospital have prompted those working in the A&E department to resort to wearing body cameras.

But what can be done to keep staff safe? Channel 4 News

Face off: the government versus GPs

Face off: the government versus GPs The government is demanding that GPs see more patients face-to-face in return for an injection of extra funding, but many in the profession say the pandemic has left them close to breaking point. The Guardian

See also: 

• Viability of general practice this winter in doubt, warns BMA GPonline

Care homes have REJECTED 5,000 requests for help in last six weeks 'because of staff shortages'

Care homes have REJECTED 5,000 requests for help in last six weeks 'because of staff shortages' Care homes have been forced to reject requests from nearly 5,000 people due to staffing shortages over the last six weeks, industry bosses said today.

The National Care Forum (NCF), an association for care providers, surveyed 340 managers who run care services in England that employ more than 20,000 staff and support around 15,000 people. The Daily Mail 

Vaccine uptake at pop-up clinics remains strong in Northamptonshire, pharmacists say

Vaccine uptake at pop-up clinics remains strong in Northamptonshire, pharmacists say Vaccine uptake is staying strong for two pop-up clinics in Northamptonshire, amidst a local rise in Covid-19 cases.

The promising news comes after a series of clinics opened their doors on October 19, with a significant portion of patients being younger people. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Nursing and midwifery competence test centre at University of Northampton wins new contract to remain open

Nursing and midwifery competence test centre at University of Northampton wins new contract to remain open A nursery and midwifery competency testing centre at the University of Northampton will remain open after the organisation was granted a new contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Women driven to terminate wanted pregnancies due to hyperemesis gravidarum

Women driven to terminate wanted pregnancies due to hyperemesis gravidarum A survey of more than 5000 women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), details the harrowing illness. The survey found 4.9% of women terminated a wanted pregnancy because of suffering from HG, while 52.1% of women had considered termination. 25.5% women surveyed occasionally thought about suicide, while 6.6% of women regularly considered it. King's College London

See also: 

• Termination of wanted pregnancy and suicidal ideation in hyperemesis gravidarum: A mixed methods study (open access) Obstetric Medicine
• Severe pregnancy illness: 'I won't have another baby' BBC News

Building Frontiers

Building Frontiers A new report by the Frontiers Group at the National Association of Primary Care explores how to support system integration at a place and neighbourhood level to enable real sustainable transformation. 

Adult inpatient survey 2020

Adult inpatient survey 2020 This survey looks at the experiences of people who stayed at least one night in hospital as an inpatient.

The results show that, generally, people’s experiences of inpatient care were positive and overall differences between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients were small, suggesting that care provided was consistent. Most people said they were treated with respect and dignity, had confidence and trust in the doctors and nurses that treated them and observed high levels of cleanliness.

Survey findings were less positive, however, for areas of care including people’s experiences of receiving emotional support, information sharing and hospital discharge. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• CQC survey shows high patient trust in hospital nurses but concerns about shortages Nursing Times

Covid and beyond: confronting the unequal access to type 1 diabetes healthcare

Covid and beyond: confronting the unequal access to type 1 diabetes healthcare JDRF surveyed more than 1000 people living with type 1 diabetes, or caring for a child living with it, to reveal their experiences through the upheavals of the Covid pandemic. The findings of the report reveal the impact of the withdrawal and repurposing of many NHS diabetes services on people with type 1. The report sets out a series of recommendations, anchored in the needs of people living with type 1. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 

Enact ‘Plan B plus’ to avoid ‘stumbling into winter crisis’

Enact ‘Plan B plus’ to avoid ‘stumbling into winter crisis’ Health leaders are calling on the government to introduce measures, such as mandatory face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces, without delay to keep people well and avoid the NHS from becoming overwhelmed this winter.

The NHS is seeing worrying increases in coronavirus cases in its hospitals and the community at a time when it is preparing for a busy winter period, its staff are close to burnout, and it is being expected to recover many of its services that were disrupted by the pandemic.

The NHS Confederation is warning that the extent of this recovery could be at risk without preemptive action over winter from the government and the public.

See also:

• COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid: Bring back rules amid rising cases, urge NHS chiefs BBC News
• Plan B of mask wearing and ban on indoor gatherings must be enforced immediately, warns NHS leader The Daily Telegraph
• Implement ‘plan B’ winter measures now or risk NHS crisis, Johnson warned The Guardian
• What are the ‘Plan B’ measures NHS chiefs want to implement? The Independent
• COVID-19: Minister rules out another lockdown as PM is urged to enforce 'Plan B' to avert winter crisis Sky News

Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK

Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK Officials are keeping a close watch on a new descendant of the Delta variant of Covid that is causing a growing number of infections.

Delta is the UK's dominant variant, but latest official data suggests 6% of Covid cases that have been genetically sequenced are of a new type.

AY.4.2, which some are calling "Delta Plus", contains mutations that might give the virus survival advantages. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: No 10 'keeping a close eye' on rising Covid cases BBC News
• UK's daily Covid deaths hit SEVEN-MONTH high of 223 while cases jump 13% in a week to 43,738 The Daily Mail
• More infectious strain of Delta makes up 10% of cases in UK - but 7 cases detected in US so far The Daily Mail
• Nearly 5MILLION vulnerable over-50s have yet to have their Covid booster vaccine The Daily Mail
• Prof Lockdown' Neil Ferguson calls for return of face masks The Daily Mail
• Pfizer's Covid vaccine negotiations with developing countries called 'bullying' in new report The Daily Mail
• Without Covid-19 jab, ‘reinfection may occur every 16 months’ The Guardian
• Why is England driving the rise in UK Covid cases? The Guardian
• Vaccine centres in England to take children’s bookings within weeks, says No 10 The Guardian
• Oxford scientists working on new Covid vaccine to target Delta variant The Independent

Care staff shortage harms services for thousands, say managers

Care staff shortage harms services for thousands, say managers Managers of community care services supporting more than 15,000 people in England, say acute staff shortages are forcing them to turn down new clients.

The National Care Forum of mainly not-for-profit organisations, says care providers are having to make tough decisions about who they can help.

Last week health bosses said the care shortage meant more patients judged fit to go home were stuck in hospital. BBC News

See also: 

• The stark reality of the care workforce National Care Forum
• NCF / Outstanding Managers Network survey National Care Forum

NHS ‘in need of 5,000 more medical students’ as numbers from EU drop

NHS ‘in need of 5,000 more medical students’ as numbers from EU drop The NHS is in need of 5,000 more medical students to maintain a sustainable supply of doctors and cope with a drop in numbers coming from Europe, the Medical Schools Council said in a new report. The Independent

See also:

• The expansion of medical school numbers in the UK: Position paper Medical Schools Council
• Medical schools call for increase in doctors to support NHS recovery and sustainability Medical Schools Council
• MSC and AoMRC statement on the expansion of medical student numbers Medical Schools Council and Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

NHS services hit with delays of up to six hours as paramedic warns of lengthy waits for ambulances this winter

NHS services hit with delays of up to six hours as paramedic warns of lengthy waits for ambulances this winter The UK is facing a "bleak" winter as health services have started seeing delays of up to six hours in admitting patients, a paramedic has warned.

Richard Webber, a paramedic and spokesman for the College of Paramedics, said the delays have resulted in increasing numbers of ambulances waiting outside hospitals, along with a backlog of 999 calls. Sky News

See also: 

• 'Trolley waits' in A&E hit record high as NHS crisis deepens The Daily Telegraph

AI projects to tackle racial inequality in UK healthcare, says Javid

AI projects to tackle racial inequality in UK healthcare, says Javid Artificial intelligence is to be used to tackle racial inequalities in the NHS under government plans to “level up” healthcare.

It is hoped that millions of black, Asian and minority ethnic Britons will benefit from revolutionary computer techniques designed to transform care and speed up diagnoses of potentially deadly conditions. Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has given the green light to a series of hi-tech initiatives aimed at tackling health disparities in the UK. It comes amid mounting concern over the issue among senior ministers. The Guardian 

Doctors call on NHS to offer women more help after first miscarriage

Doctors call on NHS to offer women more help after first miscarriage Women who lose a baby during pregnancy should be offered help after having one miscarriage rather than the three currently needed to trigger NHS support, doctors say.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) wants the NHS to overhaul its rules so that any woman who suffers a miscarriage receives some form of care, mainly information and guidance, to help them cope with their loss and plan future pregnancies. The Guardian

See also: 

• New draft guideline outlines best practice for treating recurrent miscarriage Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

GPs 'out-and-out REJECT' No10's £250million plan to get patients more face-to-face appointments

GPs 'out-and-out REJECT' No10's £250million plan to get patients more face-to-face appointments GPs have 'out-and-out rejected' No10's £250million proposals to give patients more face-to-face appointments.

Nine in ten family doctors quizzed by a medical union claimed Sajid Javid's plan to increase in-person visits was an 'unacceptable response to the current crisis'.  

Last week the Health Secretary unveiled a nine-point revolution to ensure all patients could see their doctor in person.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• England’s GPs overwhelmingly reject Health Secretary’s plan to ‘support’ general practice BMA
• GPs overwhelmingly reject access plans as BMA holds emergency meeting GPonline
• Majority of GPs 'would consider leaving NHS' amid inadequate Government support Pulse
• LMC recommends GPs 'do not participate' in NHSE plan Pulse

Health chiefs monitoring sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases in Wellingborough villages

Health chiefs monitoring sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases in Wellingborough villages Health chiefs are monitoring a sharp rise in Covid cases among a cluster of villages near Wellingborough.

Just under three percent of the 11,000 population in and around Irchester, Wollaston and Bozeat tested positive in the space of just a fortnight. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Call goes out for more volunteers to support NHS teams at Northamptonshire Covid-19 Vaccination Centre Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The easiest...and hardest GP surgeries to book an appointment with in Northampton

The easiest...and hardest GP surgeries to book an appointment with in Northampton Here we reveal the GP practices in Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group area which were voted the easiest/hardest to make an appointment at. Sixty-nine surgeries were ranked in the county

Surgeries are ranked by the proportion of patients who said their experience of booking an appointment was ‘very good/poor’. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What has been the impact of Covid-19 across the UK countries?

What has been the impact of Covid-19 across the UK countries? While every health service across the United Kingdom has faced unprecedented pressures over the past year and a half, UK-wide reporting has masked any differences in peaks and troughs across the four countries. In this explainer, Sarah Scobie takes a closer look at the pandemic across the UK so far – describing where some of those differences have been between each country as well as the shared challenges that each health service will face as winter approaches. Nuffield Trust

What does the new Health and Care Bill mean for NHS financial management?

What does the new Health and Care Bill mean for NHS financial management? James W Frick once said: ‘Don’t tell me what your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.’

So, what does the Health and Care Bill, wending its way through parliament and the most substantial piece of health legislation since the 2012 Lansley reforms, suggest about future financial management in the new NHS? The King's Fund

Drug expenditure dynamics 1995–2020: understanding medicine spending in context

Drug expenditure dynamics 1995–2020: understanding medicine spending in context While the level of drug expenditure is closely watched and often commented upon, the composition of that expenditure and its dynamics are not as well understood. Typically, official statistics of drug spending only include drugs dispensed in pharmacies and do not include drugs used in hospitals, an issue which raises questions about their representativeness of total drug spending. This report includes estimates of total drug spending, including hospitals and net of discounts and rebates. These estimates have been based on official statistics from government agencies in the countries where available, in some cases not previously published internationally. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science 

Beyond bricks and mortar: capital funding for the NHS

Beyond bricks and mortar: capital funding for the NHS Ahead of the Spending Review on 27 October, the NHS Confederation surveyed healthcare leaders across the NHS in England to understand their capital needs. The report found that 96 per cent of healthcare leaders fear they will not receive enough capital money at the forthcoming Spending Review. Insufficient capital funding may hamper the government’s plans for the NHS, impacting safety standards, digital innovations and worsening inequalities. NHS Confederation 

Equality, diversity and inclusion training: a good practice guide

Equality, diversity and inclusion training: a good practice guide This guidance includes information on: who should receive the training; training objectives; training content outline; a definition of health inequalities; and legislative requirements and policies. It also covers equality standards in the NHS; understanding bias and strategies for embedding equality, diversity and inclusion. The guide is aimed at equality, diversity and inclusion leads, HR and learning and development professionals, and trade union representatives. NHS Employers 

Evolving regulation and oversight in a systems world

Evolving regulation and oversight in a systems world This briefing outlines the key implications for trusts of changes to the NHS regulatory framework, in the context of accelerating system working and legislative change. NHS Providers

See also: 

• Five key principles for regulation and oversight in a systems world NHS Providers

Covid: Why are UK cases so high?

Covid: Why are UK cases so high? Covid cases in the UK are higher now than they were this time last year when parts of England were under local lockdowns. Thanks to the vaccine, though, there are fewer cases of serious illness with people needing to be treated in hospital.

But soaring infections - which are outstripping some European nations - are still proving a cause for concern. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Is the pace of the vaccine booster rollout too slow? BBC News
• Positive trial results for Valneva Covid vaccine BBC News
• MS drug does NOT improve condition of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is linked to WORSE outcomes The Daily Mail
• NHS pressure sees No10 hint at return of Covid restrictions The Daily Mail
• Double-jabbed people are as likely not to catch Covid as those who have recovered from infection The Daily Mail
• Covid booster jabs need to be sped up or medical units could become swamped this winter The Daily Mail
• People must be 'cautious' with day-to-day interactions as Covid cases climb and immunity wanes The Daily Telegraph
• No 10 appears to confirm Nimco Ali’s Christmas lockdown stay with Johnsons The Guardian
• UK government ordered to reveal firms awarded ‘VIP’ Covid contracts The Guardian
• Five million have yet to take up Covid booster jab The Independent

NHS is wasting up to £568m a year on pointless pills as thousands of patients are given medication they don't need, study shows

NHS is wasting up to £568m a year on pointless pillsas thousands of patients are given medication they don't need, study shows The NHS is wasting up to £568million a year on pills that patients do not need and can leave them with dangerous addictions, a study shows.

Doctors in England are dishing out habit-forming drugs such as opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills to hundreds of thousands of people who should not be on them. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• The costs incurred by the NHS in England due to the unnecessary prescribing of dependency-forming medications (abstract) Addictive Behaviors

Care homes may close over mandatory staff vaccines, industry experts fear

Care homes may close over mandatory staff vaccines, industry experts fear Under a tough new law, more than 40,000 frontline carers will be forced out of their jobs within weeks after refusing to get the jab.

But providers were already struggling to fill record numbers of vacancies and say they will be forced to close units, floors or even entire residential homes if they cannot meet required staffing levels from November 11. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'Where's the logic?': how England's 'no jab, no job' policy will hit a care worker The Guardian

Northamptonshire health boss wants tighter Covid rules

Northamptonshire health boss wants tighter Covid rules Directors of public health have been asking the government to reintroduce face mask requirement and tighter self-isolation rules, a health boss said.

Lucy Wightman, Northamptonshire's director of public health, said she and her colleagues have been "lobbying hard" for the changes.

The county has some of the highest rates in England with Wellingborough having the second highest. BBC Northampton

See also: 

• What are the rules and guidance for face masks and coverings? BBC News

New ‘wonder drug’ injection for severe asthma given approval on NHS

New ‘wonder drug’ injection for severe asthma given approval on NHS A new ‘wonder drug’ for the treatment of uncontrolled asthma has been approved for use on the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Dupilumab has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for some patients whose asthma does not respond to conventional treatments. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Suicide in children and young people: National Child Mortality Database Programme thematic report

Suicide in children and young people: National Child Mortality Database Programme thematic report This report draws on data from the NCMD to identify the common characteristics of children and young people who die by suicide. It investigates factors associated with these deaths and pulls out recommendations for service providers and policy makers. National Child Mortality Database 

Tackling health inequalities

Tackling health inequalities This briefing highlights the leading role trusts can play in creating lasting change in how inequalities in care are understood and dealt with across the NHS. NHS Providers 

NHS delivers over three million COVID boosters in first month

NHS delivers over three million COVID boosters in first month More than three million top up COVID-19 jabs have been delivered in just four weeks, as the NHS vaccination rollout continues to protect those most at risk from coronavirus.

A total of 3.1 million top ups have been administered with two in five people aged 50 and over who are eligible already coming forward for their extra jab.

More than a third of health and care workers who are eligible have also had their booster vaccine. NHS England 

Covid-19 in the UK: How many coronavirus cases are there in my area?

Covid-19 in the UK: How many coronavirus cases are there in my area? There have been 8.4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and more than 138,000 people have died, government figures show.

However, these figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus.

So far, about 86% of people aged 12 and over in the UK have had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and nearly 79% have had their second. BBC News

See also: 

• Prof Sarah Gilbert, Covid vaccine creator: Now let’s take on 12 more diseases BBC News
• Covid: Which children are being vaccinated and why? BBC News
• Investigation ordered into Wolverhampton Covid lab test failings BBC News
• Households with children THREE times as likely to have a Covid infection as those without The Daily Mail
• Covid England: Outbreak is now biggest it's been since JANUARY with one in 60 infected last week The Daily Mail
• Statins could cut risk of Covid deaths ‘by 12 per cent’ The Daily Telegraph
• Why Britons are tolerating sky-high Covid rates – and why this may not last The Guardian
• Pregnant women at risk from NHS workers’ mixed messages over safety of jab The Guardian
• England to open walk-in Covid clinics for children aged 12-15 within weeks The Guardian
• Covid cases near peak of second wave as schoolchildren fuel rise The Independent
• COVID-19: UK daily coronavirus cases highest since July as Professor Chris Whitty warns of 'exceptionally difficult' winter for NHS Sky News

NHS England hospitals having to rely on ‘obsolete’ imaging equipment

NHS England hospitals having to rely on ‘obsolete’ imaging equipment Research by Channel 4’s Dispatches reveals use of CT and MRI scanners that are 10 years old or more in about third of trusts

About a third of NHS trusts in England are using “technically obsolete” imaging equipment that could be putting patients’ health at risk, while existing shortages of doctors who are qualified to diagnose and treat disease and injuries using medical imaging techniques could triple by 2030. The Guardian 

Psychosis cases soar in England as pandemic hits mental health

Psychosis cases soar in England as pandemic hits mental health Cases of psychosis have soared over the past two years in England as an increasing number of people experience hallucinations and delusional thinking amid the stresses of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There was a 75% increase in the number of people referred to mental health services for their first suspected episode of psychosis between April 2019 and April 2021, NHS data shows. The Guardian 

Covid has made us more miserable than ever before

Covid has made us more miserable than ever before Britons were more miserable than ever in the first year of the Covid pandemic, data revealed today. 

Wellbeing levels plunged to the lowest figure since records began almost a decade ago.  

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) report also revealed anxiety rates soared to their highest ever level in the year ending March 2021.  The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain Office for National Statistics

Concern police will be able to ‘strong-arm’ NHS to hand over patient data under new plans

Concern police will be able to ‘strong-arm’ NHS to hand over patient data under new plans Police forces will be able to “strong-arm” NHS bodies into handing over confidential patient data under planned laws that have sparked fury from doctors’ groups and the UK’s medical watchdog. The Independent 

Health funding in Northamptonshire cut by a fifth, report reveals

Health funding in Northamptonshire cut by a fifth, report reveals Public health funding per head in Northamptonshire has been cut by a fifth over six years in real terms, analysis reveals.

Health leaders and charities have urged the Government to increase spending after figures showed England’s public health grant has fallen by around £1 billion in real terms since 2015-16. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Health and social care funding projections 2021 The Health Foundation

Safety net plans revealed for 12-to-15s who miss out on Covid vaccines in Northamptonshire schools

Safety net plans revealed for 12-to-15s who miss out on Covid vaccines in Northamptonshire schools Students who miss out on vaccines in schools because they catch Covid will still get their jabs.

Hundreds of 12-to-15-year-olds are among the nearly 18,000 who have tested positive in Northamptonshire during the last 28 days and many of them are still not in school, learning at home while self-isolating.  Northamptonshire Telegraph

Depression prompts four trips to A&E a day at Northampton General Hospital

Depression prompts four trips to A&E a day at Northampton General Hospital Feeling depressed is the main reason behind four trips to A&E a day at Northampton General Hospital, figures suggest.

Mental health charity Mind said it was "deeply concerning" to see so many people needing emergency care for this reason nationally. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

NHS performance summary: August-September 2021

NHS performance summary: August-September 2021 Our monthly round-up of the latest NHS performance data.

A&E waiting times in September were the worst since records began, with 1 in 4 patients waiting longer than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged. Attendances are back to pre-pandemic levels, and trolley waits are at record highs for this time of year.

The waiting list for planned care continued to grow to over 5.7 million in August, and the number of two year waiters increased to 9,754. Nuffield Trust

See also: 

• NHS England statistics show hard work and dedication of NHS staff The Health Foundation
• The waiting list for planned hospital care continues to climb The King's Fund
• NHS staff experience busiest September on record NHS England
• NHS in bleak position as A&E waits worsen, say doctors BBC News
• NHS waiting list hits ANOTHER record high with 5.72MILLION patients The Daily Mail
• Record 5.7m people in England waiting for hospital treatment The Guardian
• NHS waiting lists: Backlog hits record high with nearly six million awaiting treatment in England Sky News

The backlog of care across the provider sector: a submission to the National Audit Office inquiry on NHS backlogs and waiting times

The backlog of care across the provider sector: a submission to the National Audit Office inquiry on NHS backlogs and waiting times This survey of NHS trust leaders has revealed widespread worries that rapidly growing waiting lists will worsen existing health inequalities. Findings in the briefing also reflect concerns about the time it will take to recover the care backlog, despite impressive progress by trusts and frontline staff in restoring services. Almost a third of leaders (32 per cent) said it will take three to five years. NHS Providers 

The latest on the NHS estate

The latest on the NHS estate A grim sense of déjà vu may strike anyone who reads the latest annual data on the condition of NHS buildings and equipment. Once again, the costs of tackling the backlog of maintenance problems has risen and at the end of 2020/21 stands at £ 9.2 billion. The King's Fund 

Covid: False negative Covid test results confirmed at Newbury Showground

Covid: False negative Covid test results confirmed at Newbury Showground People who got a negative result from a Covid testing site in Berkshire earlier this month are being told to book another test, amid fears they were mistakenly given the all-clear.

Some PCR tests carried out at Newbury Showground resulted in false negatives, West Berkshire Council said. BBC News

See also:

• Covid test lab in Wolverhampton suspended over wrong results BBC News
• Number of Britons falling ill with Covid every day FALLS to below 70,000 The Daily Mail
• Chris Whitty says he can't promise everything will be great by Christmas The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid apologises for government's Covid 'failures' The Daily Mail
• Charities say Covid booster rollout for immunosuppressed is ‘chaotic failure’ The Guardian

Stillbirth rate high for black and Asian babies in UK

Stillbirth rate high for black and Asian babies in UK Stillbirth rates remain "exceptionally high" for black and Asian babies in the UK, a report examining baby loss in 2019 has found.

The figures come despite improving numbers overall, with some 610 fewer stillbirths in 2019 than in 2013. BBC News

See also: 

• Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report for births in 2019 MBRRACE-UK

Midwives working 20-hour days with no breaks at hospital, watchdog report finds

Midwives working 20-hour days with no breaks at hospital, watchdog report finds Staff shortages left midwives at hospitals at one NHS trust in Kent working 20-hour days with little time for a break, a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found.

Inspectors found there were not enough maternity staff with the right qualifications or training to keep women safe from “avoidable harm” at hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, and on occasions the shortages meant women were transferred to other hospitals during labour. The Independent 

What’s behind Sajid Javid’s row with GPs?

What’s behind Sajid Javid’s row with GPs? There is discord over the health secretary’s desire for doctors to provide more face-to-face appointments

The health secretary has irritated GPs by making clear he wants them to provide more face-to-face appointments rather than speaking to patients on the phone or by video call. Tension between GPs and Javid has grown over the past few weeks, with family doctors describing the minister as ignorant of the huge strain they are under. The Guardian

See also: 

• Government’s ‘rescue package’ for GPs is flawed and patient care will suffer as result The BMA
• GPs criticise Health Secretary's failure to speak at doctors' conference The BMA
• Speech: Thank you to GPs for their commitment during the most challenging of times – but patients must be able to see their doctor the way they want Department of Health and Social Care
• The King's Fund responds to the Department of Health and Social Care announcement to improve access to general practice The King's Fund
• Focus on access ignores other challenges in general practice, says College in response to NHSE announcement on ‘rescue’ measures for general practice Royal College of General Practitioners
• Fury at 'overpaid' GPs for moaning about Sajid Javid's plans The Daily Mail
• 'Nothing can bring Peter back... but no one else should die after being refused a visit to their GP': Five real-life stories of heartache caused by doctors' practices fobbing off patients The Daily Mail
• GPs must face the facts The Daily Telegraph
• GP anger over 'unsafe' plans to reduce social distancing and increase face-to-face appointments The Daily Telegraph
• What was Sajid Javid thinking? Challenging GPs could only ever backfire The Daily Telegraph
• Javid plans 'won't turn the tide' for GPs, warns former Tory health secretary GPonline
• GP fury as 'support package' ramps up pressure on face-to-face access GPonline
• GPs’ leader condemns ‘malicious criticism’ by politicians The Guardian
• GPs have become the new fall guys for government failures | Gaby Hinsliff The Guardian
• Stop demonising England’s family doctors – we are on our knees | Nishma Manek The Guardian
• ‘It is with a heavy heart that I leave’ – why the unrelieved pressure is pushing GPs to quit The Guardian
• NHS plans criticised as patients left waiting months for GP appointment ITV News

Austerity in England linked to more than 50,000 extra deaths in five years

Austerity in England linked to more than 50,000 extra deaths in five years Austerity cuts to the NHS, public health and social care have killed tens of thousands more people in England than expected, according to the largest study of its kind.

Researchers who analysed the joint impact of cuts to healthcare, public health and social care since 2010 found that even in just the following four years the spending squeeze was linked with 57,550 more deaths than would have been expected. The findings, worse than previously thought, were revealed in the journal BMJ Open. The Guardian

See also: 

• Causal impact of social care, public health and healthcare expenditure on mortality in England: cross-sectional evidence for 2013/2014 (open access) BMJ Open
• Austerity linked to tens of thousands more deaths than expected The Independent

'What were we to them – expendable?' The story behind the biggest treatment scandal in NHS history

'What were we to them – expendable?' The story behind the biggest treatment scandal in NHS history Thousands of lives were destroyed by the infected blood scandal of the 1970s and '80s. The Daily Telegraph's latest podcast investigates.

Booster Covid jabs will be key to keeping pressure off Northamptonshire NHS hospitals, say health chiefs

Booster Covid jabs will be key to keeping pressure off Northamptonshire NHS hospitals, say health chiefs Health chiefs are confident vaccine boosters will stop severe Covid cases putting more pressure on the NHS in Northamptonshire.

Seven deaths in county hospitals and care homes within the last week were confirmed yesterday by the NHS and Office for National Statistics. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

New boss for Kettering hospice trust

New boss for Kettering hospice trust Kettering' s Cransley Hospice Trust has announced Philip Talbot as its new chief executive. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Northamptonshire Health Charity goes pink and blue for Baby Loss Awareness Week

Northamptonshire Health Charity goes pink and blue for Baby Loss Awareness Week All this week, Northamptonshire Health Charity is supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week by helping to raise awareness about pregnancy and baby loss. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Northampton General Hospital critical care staff give themselves another mountain to climb by hiking up Snowdon Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Climate change action will improve health and save lives now and in the future

Climate change action will improve health and save lives now and in the future Measures to tackle climate change could significantly benefit human health in the next few years, as well as in the long-term, says a new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society, released today [Thursday 14 October]. The report calls on the UK government to make sure that the initiatives they establish to tackle climate change are also designed to deliver benefits to health.

See also: 

• Tackling climate change could save the NHS £17 billion, say experts The Independent

End of life care for people with a brain tumour

End of life care for people with a brain tumour Death is the one sure certainty for us all, yet we rarely discuss end-of-life care and what our final wishes would be. Having all the relevant information allows you to begin the conversation, make sure any requests are in place and ensure that you feel in control.

This resource has been produced with people who have the lived experience of what it is like to care for someone with a brain tumour at end-of-life, with leading consultants in palliative care and clinical nurse specialists who are hospice-based. Brainstrust 

Plan set out to improve access for NHS patients and support GPs

Plan set out to improve access for NHS patients and support GPs The NHS, working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, has today published a blueprint for improving access to GP appointments for patients alongside supporting GPs and their teams.

Surgeries will be provided with additional funding to boost their capacity to increase the proportion of appointments delivered face to face, as part of a major drive to support general practice and level up performance, including additional efforts to tackle abuse against staff. NHS England

See also: 

• GPs are stretched beyond endurance: the Government needs to publicly support and resource the profession Royal College of General Practitioners
• GP rescue plan to boost face-to-face consultations BBC News
• GPs ‘named and shamed’ if they fail to see patients face to face The Daily Telegraph
• ‘Demonising less-than-full-time doctors will drive people away’ - GPs slam media attacks GPOnline
• England’s GPs to get £250m boost if they see more patients face-to-face The Guardian
• England’s GPs to be told to scrap 2-metre rule, say reports The Guardian
• GPs to get £250m injection ahead of winter The Independent
• Sajid Javid denies GPs will be ‘named and shamed’ in appointments plan The Independent

Covid: Lateral flow tests more accurate than first thought, study finds

Covid: Lateral flow tests more accurate than first thought, study finds Lateral flow tests (LFTs) are very good at detecting people most likely to spread Covid-19 and positive results should be trusted, say University College London researchers.

When LFTs were introduced, they were criticised for being less accurate than PCR tests, which are analysed in a lab. BBC News

See also: 

• Recalibrating SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Lateral Flow Test Relative Sensitivity from Validation Studies to Absolute Sensitivity for Indicating Individuals Shedding Transmissible Virus (open access) Dove Press
• Covid: Scientists targeted with abuse during pandemic BBC News
• NHS Covid pass app suffers outage BBC News
• Covid: New WHO group may be last chance to find virus origins BBC News
• Countries should use pooled testing at start of future pandemics, experts say The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases hit a three-month high The Daily Mail
• Tory minister says sorry for mistakes in Covid pandemic handling The Guardian

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge prepares for busiest winter ever

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge prepares for busiest winter ever The Covid pandemic has forced many hospitals to cancel operations and allowed waiting lists to grow. With infections still on the rise and winter looming, how is one of England's flagship hospitals making up for lost time?

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge is gearing up for what it expects to be its busiest winter ever. BBC News 

Britain told to brace for an early flu season by top expert amid fears 60,000 could die

Britain told to brace for an early flu season by top expert amid fears 60,000 could die Britain should brace for an early flu outbreak this winter because cases are already rising in other countries, a top expert has warned.

The UK's flu season tends to last from September to March but the virus does not usually heap pressure on the NHS until January. The Daily Mail 

St Andrew’s Healthcare CEO to step down from Northampton mental health hospital

St Andrew’s Healthcare CEO to step down from Northampton mental health hospital Katie Fisher, CEO of St Andrew’s Healthcare, who has led the charity through a “major transformation” during one of the most challenging periods in the healthcare sector has decided to step down from her position. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northampton care home put in special measures after getting worst possible rating in scathing report by inspectors

Northampton care home put in special measures after getting worst possible rating in scathing report by inspectors A Northampton care home has been placed into special measures after being given the worst possible rating in a scathing report by inspectors.

Oakwood Nursing Home has been rated as 'inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a report published last week following a visit in August. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Heroin users warned over deadly drugs '100 times stronger than morphine' still circulating in Northamptonshire

Heroin users warned over deadly drugs '100 times stronger than morphine' still circulating in Northamptonshire Police are warning drug users about a potentially deadly cutting agent still circulating in Northamptonshire.

Officers first sounded an alert over the agent isotonitazene back in July and believe it was directly linked to at least four dangerous overdoses in Kettering last month. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Addressing the national syndemic: place-based problems and solutions to UK health inequality

Addressing the national syndemic: place-based problems and solutions to UK health inequality This report, published with the Institute of Health Equity, finds that health inequalities have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights that it is the collective responsibility for private, public, voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors to work together to create more equitable and healthy societies. Free registration is required to read this report. Public Policy Projects 

RCR calls for sustainable investment in imaging and cancer services in Spending Review 2021

RCR calls for sustainable investment in imaging and cancer services in Spending Review 2021 The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has submitted a spending review representation (PDF) to the Treasury, urging Government to invest in a robust and sustainable future for NHS imaging and cancer care.

Our submission outlines the vital role played by the RCR’s two medical specialties – with radiology services providing fast patient diagnoses and minimally-invasive surgery and clinical oncology delivering highly effective non-surgical cancer treatment. Chronic underinvestment meant these services were stretched before the arrival of coronavirus, and we are asking the Treasury to prioritise three vital resourcing needs over the next three years.

See also: 

• UK must train more cancer doctors to save lives and avoid NHS 'wasting' £400m The Daily Telegraph
• Significant shortfalls in specialty doctors costing lives – report Evening Standard

One in three doctors say their organisation is not prepared for winter

One in three doctors say their organisation is not prepared for winter The twelfth survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted as more of the population returns to normality and winter is on the horizon.

With just four weeks until the end of British Summer Time, over a third of respondents to our survey (36%) say their organisation is not at all prepared for winter. 27% feel personally unprepared, and almost two thirds feeling tired or exhausted. Royal College of Physicians

See also: 

• NHS: Doctors feel unprepared and health service is not ready for winter months, poll warns Sky News

Research: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England

Research: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Monthly report presenting the latest data on COVID-19 mortality in England in people with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2. Public Health England