Understanding vaccine hesitancy through communities of place

Understanding vaccine hesitancy through communities of place This UK-US collaborative study highlights the importance of tapping into local knowledge and leadership in efforts to improve Covid-19 vaccine take-up. Produced together with the Institute for Community Research and Boston University in the United States, the report explores levels of vaccine engagement in four locations: Oldham and Tower Hamlets in the UK, and the cities of Boston and Hartford in the US. In all four localities, the survey finds the authorities’ ‘top-down’ approach to vaccine distribution and education has been ineffective, and that applying a ‘community engagement approach’ instead –involving community groups and trusted leaders in vaccine distribution and education – can improve take-up rates. Institute for Community Studies

Covid: Can UK avoid a Europe-style return to lockdown?

Covid: Can UK avoid a Europe-style return to lockdown? Covid infection rates have started rising sharply in parts of Western Europe, prompting the introduction of fresh restrictions and lockdowns.

It has triggered fears the UK could follow suit. But there are plenty of reasons to believe Britain will escape the worst of what is being seen on the continent. In fact, the UK may well be in the strongest position of all to weather Covid this winter. BBC News

See also:

• COVID-19: AstraZeneca CEO on long-term protection from jab BBC News
• Covid death doctor Irfan Halim touched lives, brother says BBC News
• Inhalable asthma treatment does not reduce number of days it takes to clear COVID-19 symptoms The Daily Mail
• Delta subvariant AY.4.2 is LESS likely to cause symptoms but slightly more infectious than ancestor The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases rise 13% in a week to 44,917 but deaths drop slightly with 45 victims The Daily Mail
• AstraZeneca jab could be why Britain is faring better than Europe, says vaccine boss The Daily Telegraph
• Getting jabs to the unvaccinated has never been more critical The Guardian
• Another Covid Christmas: Britons urged to delay festive plans The Guardian
• Zahawi rejects exclusion zones to keep Covid anti-vaxxers away from schools The Guardian

Change to sepsis advice after mums' herpes deaths

Change to sepsis advice after mums' herpes deaths Advice on how new mothers with sepsis should be treated is to change after two women died of a herpes infection.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says viral sources of infections should be considered and appropriate treatment offered.

This comes after the BBC revealed one surgeon might have infected the mothers while performing Caesareans on them. BBC News

See also: 

• New mothers who died of herpes could have been infected by one surgeon BBC News
• Two mothers died ‘after catching herpes from same caesarean surgeon’ The Daily Telegraph

NHS to give therapy for depression before medication under new guidelines

NHS to give therapy for depression before medication under new guidelines Millions of people with mild depression in England should be offered therapy, exercise, mindfulness or meditation before antidepressants, according to the first new NHS guidelines in more than a decade.

Under draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommends the “menu of treatment options” be offered to patients by health professionals before medication is considered. The Guardian

See also: 

• NICE creates new menu of treatment options for those suffering from depression NICE
• NHS could give therapy before anti-depressants, under new guidelines BBC News
• What are the new Nice guidelines on depression in the UK? The Guardian

System for assessing who needs to pay for NHS care ‘incentivises racial profiling’

System for assessing who needs to pay for NHS care ‘incentivises racial profiling’ The system for assessing who should be asked to pay for NHS services “incentivises racial profiling”, an investigation has found.

A study by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that overstretched NHS staff sometimes racially profile patients in order to determine who is not “ordinarily resident” in the UK, and therefore must pay for their care. The Guardian

See also: 

• Towards true universal care: Reforming the NHS charging system Institute for Public Policy Research

Health and Care Bill explained - and why anti-NHS-privatisation groups are angry

Health and Care Bill explained - and why anti-NHS-privatisation groups are angry The Tories’ Health and Care Bill will make sweeping changes to the structure of the NHS in England - undoing 2012 reforms. The Mirror

See also: 

• Last minute changes to social care reforms are a step in the wrong direction The Health Foundation
• A ‘radically realistic’ vision for adult social care The King's Fund
• Significant tweak to social care proposals will leave fewer protected from catastrophic costs Nuffield Trust
• Social care: MPs back change to funding cost cap in England BBC News
• Social care: Boris Johnson defends his plan amid criticism over the cost cap BBC News
• England’s social care cap will see poorest areas lose greater share of property wealth The Guardian
• The NHS is facing the hardest winter in its history, and still the Tories vandalise it The Guardian
• UK Social Care: What The Shake-Up Means For You Huffington Post
• The Tories’ health and care bill needs a new name: the corporate takeover bill The Independent
• Controversial changes to social care plan pass Commons - but only just ITV News

Northamptonshire: Covid funds granted for most vulnerable

Northamptonshire: Covid funds granted for most vulnerable A fund of £2.5m has been made available to help a district recover from the social impact of the Covid pandemic.

North Northamptonshire Council has been given the money from the government's Household Support Fund. BBC Northampton

Northamptonshire is delivering on NHS targets for those needing wheelchairs, figures reveal

Northamptonshire is delivering on NHS targets for those needing wheelchairs, figures reveal Nearly all those in Northamptonshire needing NHS wheelchairs are getting them on time, figures show — despite lengthy delays elsewhere across England. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Briefing on the Health and Care Bill: House of Commons report stage and third reading

Briefing on the Health and Care Bill: House of Commons report stage and third reading The Health and Care Bill (House of Commons Bill 2021–22) introduces new measures to promote and enable collaboration in health and care, building on earlier recommendations made by NHS England and NHS Improvement in 2019. The Bill also contains new powers for the Secretary of State to intervene in the health and care system, and targeted changes to public health, social care, and the oversight of quality and safety. The King's Fund

What will 'better' elective care look like in the future?

What will 'better' elective care look like in the future? The headline issue in elective care is that 5.8 million people and counting are currently waiting for elective treatment in England – and more than 12,000 have been waiting more than two years – with ministers suggesting that waits will ‘get worse before they get better’. The King's Fund

Timely access to care: principles for recovery

Timely access to care: principles for recovery This report uncovers timely access to care is now the most pressing concern of people who live with ill health, disability or impairment. It finds that primary care, community services, mental health, elective and specialist care and urgent and emergency services are all impacted by delays, waits, service disruptions and cancellations. It concludes that rebuilding timely access to health and care needs to be top priority for all system leaders. National Voices 

Adults in England aged 40 upwards will be invited to book booster

Adults in England aged 40 upwards will be invited to book booster People in England aged over 40 can book their Covid booster jabs from Monday.

Almost 500,000 people in their 40s are currently eligible for the booster, having received their second jab at least six months ago, NHS England said.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds will also be able to book their second dose from Monday, after scientists concluded it was safe and effective for this group. BBC News

See also:

• Austria to go into full lockdown as Covid surges  BBC News
• Booster vaccines to be added to NHS Covid Pass for travel  BBC News
• UK's daily Covid cases rise by another 10% in a week to 44,242 The Daily Mail
• Wearing a mask is 'the most effective way' of curbing spread of Covid, study claims The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccines could be offered to children as young as five next spring The Daily Telegraph
• UK must be ready to impose Covid restrictions this winter, expert warns The Guardian
• ICU is full of the unvaccinated – my patience with them is wearing thin The Guardian
• England’s Covid test and trace spending over £1m a day on consultants The Guardian
• UK investigates supplier of NHS PPE over alleged use of forced labour The Guardian
• ‘A best friend to so many’: tributes to surgeon who died of Covid The Guardian
• UK ‘has accepted it doesn’t matter’ if children get Covid, top GP says The Independent
• Revealed: 600 premature babies born to mothers in hospital with Covid The Independent

Deaths of people treated under the Mental Health Act rose during pandemic

Deaths of people treated under the Mental Health Act rose during pandemic The number of deaths of people being treated under the Mental Health Act in England rose during the coronavirus pandemic, estimates suggest.

The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) findings come amid concerns over staff shortages in psychiatric units.

Some 490 people died while detained under the act in the year to March 2021 - 324 of them for non-Covid reasons, the regulator says. BBC News 

Javid orders probe into medical device racial bias

Javid orders probe into medical device racial bias A review into whether medical devices are equally effective regardless of the patient's ethnicity has been ordered by Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

Research suggests oximeters, which are clipped to a person's finger, can overstate the level of oxygen in the blood of people from ethnic minorities.

Ministers want to know whether bias could have prevented patients receiving appropriate Covid treatment. BBC News

See also: 

• Review launched into the health impact of potential bias in medical devices Department of Health and Social Care
• Sajid Javid: 'Medical device racial bias not acceptable' BBC News
• From oximeters to AI, where bias in medical devices may lurk The Guardian
• Bias in medical devices may have led to avoidable UK Covid deaths, says Javid The Guardian
• Review to be launched into racial and gender bias in medical devices The Independent

NHS hospital at centre of cover up claims after woman died following repeated paracetamol overdose

NHS hospital at centre of cover up claims after woman died following repeated paracetamol overdose The family of a woman who died after being repeatedly overdosed with paracetamol in an NHS hospital have demanded action over her death amid allegations of an NHS cover up.

Laura Higginson, a trainee solicitor and mum of two, died after seeking medical help for sickness and pneumonia. She died two weeks later from multi-organ failure and sepsis. The Independent 

Giving birth in the UK becoming 'critically unsafe' say organisers of midwife vigil

Giving birth in the UK becoming 'critically unsafe' say organisers of midwife vigil Giving birth in the UK is becoming "critically unsafe" according to organisers of vigils being held by midwives across the UK today.

Staff shortages and a lack of funding are being blamed for putting women and their babies at risk.

A recent survey found 60% of midwives were thinking of leaving the profession due to the pressures they are under. Sky News

See also:

• Midwives' vigil in Northampton town centre Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Midwives take to the streets to warn NHS services are a 'national emergency' The Daily Mail

Mental health: Anxiety, depression and self-harm on rise among teens

Mental health: Anxiety, depression and self-harm on rise among teens The number of teenagers seeking help for mental health problems is increasing rapidly, according to children's charities. The BBC went to Northamptonshire to talk to young people affected and those trying to help. BBC Northampton

Covid credited as stop smoking service reports rise in referrals

Covid credited as stop smoking service reports rise in referrals The number of people referring themselves to a service aimed at helping them stop smoking has increased rapidly since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020, a total of 1,242 people applied to the Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service - an increase of 200% on the previous year. BBC Northampton 

Money talks: investing in proactive health measures to support healthy ageing

Money talks: investing in proactive health measures to support healthy ageing It is known that proactive (preventative health interventions and health promotion) health measures work, are cost-effective, and can save lives. However cross the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on average countries spend just 2.8 per cent of their health budgets on these interventions. In this report, with ILC-Canada, Canada is used as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of spending on prevention and health promotion. Canada spends more of its health budget on proactive health measures than any other country in the OECD – at six per cent, it’s more than double the OECD average, which has contributed to positive outcomes. International Longevity Centre UK

Chart of the week: How many care home staff in England have received two Covid-19 vaccine doses?

Chart of the week: How many care home staff in England have received two Covid-19 vaccine doses? After the deadline passed last week, care home staff in England now need to have received two Covid-19 jabs to carry on working. In this week’s chart, Nina Hemmings looks at how many had been vaccinated twice only a few weeks before the deadline. Nuffield Trust 

The government’s preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk management

The government’s preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk management Like many other governments across the world, the UK government was underprepared for a pandemic like COVID-19. It will need to learn lessons from its preparations for and handling of whole-system risks, which will include making judgements on what level of preparations is appropriate. National Audit Office

See also: 

• Covid: UK government wasn't ready for pandemic, report finds BBC News

13 million top-up COVID-19 vaccines given across the UK

13 million top-up COVID-19 vaccines given across the UK More than 13 million life-saving booster jabs have been given across the UK, marking another significant milestone in the phenomenal COVID-19 vaccination programme. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 46) UK Health Security Agency

Covid cases highest in younger children in England

Covid cases highest in younger children in England Covid case rates in England are now highest among children aged five to nine, latest weekly surveillance figures reveal.

The data, up to 14 November, shows this younger age group has overtaken older, secondary school aged children for the first time.

In recent months, the 10 to 19 age group maintained the highest rate of infections per 100,000 tested. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: 50 firms got VIP fast-track equipment contracts BBC News
• Britain's daily Covid cases jump by 10% to highest level in a month The Daily Mail
• First-ever known case of Covid was a female seafood vendor at a Wuhan market The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Booster vaccine doses reduce the risk of infection by two thirds compared to two doses The Daily Mail
• Rollout of third Covid jabs in England condemned as ‘shambolic’ The Guardian
• Covid is surging in Europe. What does it mean for the UK? The Guardian
• AstraZeneca Covid antibody treatment more than 80% successful The Independent
• More infectious Delta variant accounts for one in 10 Covid cases The Independent

Oral drug for spinal muscular atrophy to be available on NHS in England

Oral drug for spinal muscular atrophy to be available on NHS in England The NHS is to introduce a revolutionary new treatment to tackle the leading genetic cause of death among babies and young children.

About 1,500 patients in England with certain types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are expected to benefit from risdiplam, after a recommendation from the health watchdog. The drug, also called Evrysdi and made by Roche, is a syrup that can be taken at home and is the first non-injectable treatment for the condition. The Guardian

See also: 

• Risdiplam for treating spinal muscular atrophy in children and adults (draft guideline) NICE
• NICE draft guidance recommends new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy as part of a managed access agreement NICE
• Take at home treatment for spinal muscular atrophy BBC News
• NHS to give life-changing drug to spinal muscular atrophy patients The Independent

NHS trust 'failed to act' on inspectors' warnings before patient deaths, court told

NHS trust 'failed to act' on inspectors' warnings before patient deaths, court told Two patients suffering from sepsis died following treatment at the same NHS hospital after inspectors’ warnings about failings in care were not acted upon, a court has heard.

Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court was told the Care Quality Commission (CQC) informed the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust its staff were not clear on how to follow a 'sepsis treatment pathway' in the months leading up to both deaths. ITV News 

Grab a booster jab to keep Covid-19 off your Christmas list, plea from Northamptonshire health chiefs

Grab a booster jab to keep Covid-19 off your Christmas list, plea from Northamptonshire health chiefs Health chiefs in Northamptonshire are echoing a call by Boris Johnson to grab a booster jab and save Christmas.

The Prime Minister confirmed that follow-up jabs would be made available to 40-to-49-year-olds amid fears waning protection from initial doses could spark a rise in hospital cases. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Kettering mum's anguish at sons' mental health discharge as they are told: 'go to your GP instead of specialist unit'

Kettering mum's anguish at sons' mental health discharge as they are told: 'go to your GP instead of specialist unit' A Kettering mum says she is 'absolutely distraught' at the decision to discharge her adult sons from the mental health team that they have relied on since they were children.

Her sons, now in their twenties, received letters on the same day informing them that 'in line with the NHS long-term plan' review they were no longer under the immediate care of St Mary's Hospital's community mental health team. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Nurses’ pay over the long term: what next?

Nurses’ pay over the long term: what next? Our report looks at long-term trends in pay for UK nurses since the establishment of the NHS Pay Review Body in 1983 to the present day.

It explores changes over time, how nurses’ pay has changed relative to other public sector workers, and how pay for UK nurses compares to other countries. The Health Foundation

Funding saga proves bad for HEE’s health

Funding saga proves bad for HEE’s health The long-running dispute between Health Education England and the Treasury over HEE’s budget has come to a head with news that the body will be incorporated into NHS England.

HSJ understands from senior sources that the funding settlement sought by HEE was deemed unaffordable, triggering its demise. It is expected the independent education body will become part of the NHSE by April 2023. Health Service Journal

See also: 

• The King's Fund responds to the Health Education England merger with NHS England The King's Fund

A joint thematic inspection of the criminal justice journey for individuals with mental health needs and disorders

A joint thematic inspection of the criminal justice journey for individuals with mental health needs and disorders Inspectors looked at more than 300 cases from six regions, interviewed 550 professionals, and heard from 67 people with mental health issues who had been through the criminal justice system, from first contact with the police to release from prison. The inspection report found poor support for people with mental health issues and concludes that too little progress had been made since the last review in 2009. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation

See also: 

• Every part of justice system fails mentally ill people, inspectors find The Guardian

Crowding and its Consequences: RCEM insight report

Crowding and its Consequences: RCEM insight report Emergency Department (ED) crowding is a major threat to public health and represents a serious policy challenge that must be urgently tackled. Although it is present in health systems across the globe, it has worsened significantly in recent years in the UK due to the severe mismatch between demand and capacity in the NHS. Increasing patient demand coupled with high hospital bed occupancy has resulted in exit block - the key reason for crowded EDs. Royal College of Emergency Medicine

See also: 

• At least 4,500 patients in England have died because of 'shocking' overcrowding at A&E and 12-hour ambulance handover delays in the last year, damning report finds The Daily Mail
• More than 4,500 people died after waiting 12 hours on hospital trolleys last year The Daily Telegraph
• A&E overcrowding in UK ‘killing thousands a year’, say doctors The Guardian
• A&E waits ‘kill’ as long delays drive thousands of patient deaths The Independent

Life in the time of Covid-19: the 2020 UK consultant census

Life in the time of Covid-19: the 2020 UK consultant census The most recent census of the consultant physician workforce in the UK shows that the number of doctors needed to meet patient demand continues to significantly outnumber the supply. It found that the proportion of unfilled medical consultant posts across the UK is at its highest level in almost a decade. Nearly half (48 per cent) of advertised consultant posts across the UK were unfilled last year – up from 36 per cent in 2013. Most posts were not filled because there were no applicants. The three Royal Colleges of Physicians believe a lack of long-term workforce planning is the primary factor behind the 33 per cent increase in unfilled consultant posts across the UK since 2013. Royal Colleges of Physicians 

Thousands spared strokes thanks to new NHS drug agreements

Thousands spared strokes thanks to new NHS drug agreements More than 20,000 strokes and 5,000 deaths could be averted after NHS England struck new agreements to expand life-saving blood thinning drugs, chief executive Amanda Pritchard announced.

The NHS will now dramatically scale up the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with as many as 610,000 more patients set to benefit over the next three years. NHS England 

Government response: PPE procurement in the early pandemic

Government response: PPE procurement in the early pandemic The government is publishing further information about its exceptional procurement exercise to secure critical personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early months of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• UKHSA updates clinical guidance on vaccinations for 12 to 17 year olds UK Health Security Agency

Covid vaccines: Children told to wait longer for jab after infection

Covid vaccines: Children told to wait longer for jab after infection Healthy children aged 12 to 17 are being advised to wait 12 weeks after a coronavirus infection before having a Covid jab in the UK.

Previously the advice was to leave a four-week gap.

The UK Health Security Agency said the change was a precaution against the small risk of heart inflammation. BBC News

See also:

• Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination: checklist for parents of children aged 12 to 15 years UK Health Security Agency
• Merkel: Germany hit by full force of Covid BBC News
• Covid-19 UK: Britain's coronavirus cases FALL for first time in a week The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccines may only affect menstrual cycles of women on contraception, study claims The Daily Mail
• Covid immunity wanes after two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in all ages, Israeli study claims The Daily Mail
• Mask-wearing cuts Covid incidence by 53%, says global study The Guardian
• Delta offshoot ‘one to watch’ over fears of future mutations The Independent
• Researchers find way to filter coronavirus particles out of the air Sky News

Government changes rules on social care cap

Government changes rules on social care cap The financial help poorer people get to cover their care will not count towards a new cap on costs, according to updated government plans.

It was announced in September that from 2023 no-one in England would pay more than £86,000 for care.

Now a tweak to the plan has been published, which critics say could see the poorest having to use more of their assets than better off people. BBC News

See also: 

• Social care cap could expose poorer homeowners to ‘catastrophic’ costs The Guardian

Long-acting HIV jabs to replace daily pills in ‘great step forward’

Long-acting HIV jabs to replace daily pills in ‘great step forward’ The NHS has been given the green light to offer people living with HIV the first "long-acting injectable" to keep the virus at bay.

Charities have hailed the "incredible news" which offers an alternative to adults living with HIV who have to take daily antiretroviral drugs.

Many people living with HIV can keep the virus at very low levels by taking antiretroviral tablets each day. The Independent

See also: 

• NICE approves first long-acting injectable HIV-1 treatment NICE
• Cabotegravir and rilpivirine for treating HIV-1 (draft guidance) NICE
• First long-acting injection for HIV approved BBC News

Stakes high for both sides as dispute over GP appointments deepens

Stakes high for both sides as dispute over GP appointments deepens Talking to MPs recently, an effusive Sajid Javid lauded the vital role paid by “our fantastic GPs”. But his warm words are unlikely to have persuaded many of England’s family doctors that the new health secretary was softening his stance in an increasingly bitter dispute over his insistence on face-to-face appointments for any patient that asks.

The row has led to the first clash between the government and medical profession since Javid’s predecessor Jeremy Hunt confronted junior doctors in 2015 over weekend working, which led to a year-long struggle including a series of strikes by trainee medics. The Guardian

See also:

• GPs have decided whether they will strike, but they won't tell YOU (the person who pays their wages) The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid’s criticisms fuelling abuse of doctors, says GPs’ chief The Guardian
• GP access improvement plans to be finalised this week, says NHS England Pulse

Confusion reigns over how many Northamptonshire care home staff missed 'no jabs, no job' deadline

Confusion reigns over how many Northamptonshire care home staff missed 'no jabs, no job' deadline Council claims 143 were forced to quit, NHS England says nearly 1,000 did not have two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Confusion reigns over fallout in Northamptonshire care homes from the government's no jabs, no job mandate. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering GP surgery improvement sees practice move to 'good' rating

Kettering GP surgery improvement sees practice move to 'good' rating Staff at a Kettering medical practice are celebrating after they were graded as 'good' in their latest inspection by health regulators.

Lakeside's Headlands Surgery in Headlands, was rated as 'good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after the visit by inspectors in September, having previously been graded as 'requires improvement'. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

No end in sight to mammoth waiting lists for routine NHS treatment at Northampton General Hospital

No end in sight to mammoth waiting lists for routine NHS treatment at Northampton General Hospital Tens of thousands of patients were waiting for routine treatment at Northampton General Hospital Trust in September, figures show.

But those who are being seen, are being seen quicker than they were a year ago. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Strengthening workforce planning in the Health and Care Bill

Strengthening workforce planning in the Health and Care Bill The RCP is one of over 60 organisations (including The King's Fund) supporting an amendment to the Health and Care Bill tabled by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt MP to strengthen workforce planning. Ahead of Report Stage of the Health and Care Bill on 22 November 2021, Jeremy Hunt has tabled an amendment to Clause 34 of the Health and Care Bill that would require the secretary of state to publish independently verified assessments of current and future workforce numbers every two years consistent with Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) long-term fiscal projections. This briefing explains the amendment. Royal Colleges of Physicians 

The NMC Register mid-year update: 1 April–30 September 2021

The NMC Register mid-year update: 1 April–30 September 2021 This report shows that the NMC register of nurses, midwives and nursing associates has grown by 13,011 to 744,929. A big driver of growth is more than 10,600 professionals from outside Europe joining the register between April and September. There’s been an overall increase in people leaving the register, now at the highest level for the period since 2017. The number of nurses and midwives eligible to practise in the UK, and nursing associates who can practise in England, continues to rise. This is amid severe pressure on health and care services heading toward winter. Nursing and Midwifery Council 

Levelling up men’s health: the case for a men’s health strategy

Levelling up men’s health: the case for a men’s health strategy Across the UK, men’s mental and physical health is unacceptably poor – with around one man in five dying before the age of 65. Covid has worsened the situation with completely disproportionate effects amongst men. Many services are failing to reach men in time, especially working-age men, even though there are ever more examples of how services can be designed to reach and engage men more effectively. The lesson from other countries is that introducing a men’s health strategy alongside the government’s planned women’s health strategy can change this. This document lays out the case for change. Men's Health Forum 

The cost of poor housing in England

The cost of poor housing in England This briefing paper quantifies the cost burden to the NHS caused by hazards arising from poor quality homes in England. Findings reveal that 2.6 million homes in England – eleven per cent of the country’s housing stock – are categorised as ‘poor quality’ and therefore hazardous to occupants. Most common hazards are those that cause injuries on stairs, while the costliest issue for the NHS (£857million p/a) is poor quality housing leading to excess cold. BRE Group 

Antibiotic-resistant infections fell in 2020 for first time since 2016, but UKHSA warns drop likely temporary

Antibiotic-resistant infections fell in 2020 for first time since 2016, but UKHSA warns drop likely temporary New data published ahead of World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW), 18 to 24 November, shows that antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections fell in 2020 (from 65,583 in 2019, to 55,384) for the first time since 2016 but still remain at a higher level than 6 years ago. Importantly, the decline was largely driven by a reduction in recorded bloodstream infections overall, likely due to less social mixing, enhanced hand hygiene and changes to healthcare access and delivery. UK Health Security Agency

See also: 

• Research: English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report UK Health Security Agency
• Hidden pandemic of antibiotic-resistant infections, health officials warn BBC News
• Antibiotic-resistant infections ‘set to rise after Covid pandemic’ The Independent

Rare case of woman's body ridding itself of HIV

Rare case of woman's body ridding itself of HIV A woman from Argentina appears to have rid herself of HIV without drugs or treatment - the second documented case of its kind in the world.

Doctors believe the patient's immune system cleared the virus on its own. BBC News

See also:

• A Possible Sterilizing Cure of HIV-1 Infection Without Stem Cell Transplantation (abstract) Archives of Internal Medicine

'We're not battle-axes' - GP receptionists

'We're not battle-axes' - GP receptionists Getting through to a GP in England is becoming more difficult. Demand has bounced back since the pandemic and it's getting harder to recruit new doctors. Staff in Bristol say they have never seen pressure like this before - and winter hasn't even started yet. BBC News 

The death of Dr Kailash Chand: how a lethal mix of NHS privatisation and lack of resources led to tragedy

The death of Dr Kailash Chand: how a lethal mix of NHS privatisation and lack of resources led to tragedy A lethal mix of NHS privatisation, overwhelming demand on ambulance services and lack of staff combined with human error led to a fatal delay in paramedics reaching a prominent doctor.

The series of failures outlined in a review of the case, seen by i, included an ambulance crew having to stop to ask a pedestrian directions to the street where Dr Kailash Chand lived because they had conflicting details. iNews 

Regularly drinking tea and coffee linked to lower risk of stroke and dementia

Regularly drinking tea and coffee linked to lower risk of stroke and dementia Drinking multiple cups of tea and coffee a day has been associated with a lower risk of stroke and dementia, according to a new study.

Research published in the PLOS Medicine journal said those who drank two to three cups of coffee, or three to five cups of tea – or a combination of four to six cups of both – could possibly have a lower risk of developing a condition. The Independent

See also: 

• Consumption of coffee and tea and risk of developing stroke, dementia, and poststroke dementia: A cohort study in the UK Biobank (open access) PLOS Medicine
• Why tea and coffee could reduce the risk of stroke and dementia explained iNews

Childhood obesity in England soars during pandemic

Childhood obesity in England soars during pandemic Thousands of children are facing “serious” and even “devastating” consequences as a result of weight gain during the pandemic, experts warn, as “alarming” figures reveal one in four 10- and 11-year-olds in England are obese.

Health leaders are calling for a “relentless drive” to boost child health as official NHS data lays bare for the first time how child obesity levels have soared during lockdowns. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS to open first specialist clinics for severely obese children NHS England
• Pandemic sees big rise in obese children in England BBC News
• Childhood obesity hits record high during Covid, NHS data shows The Daily Mail
• NHS to set up 15 special clinics in England for severely obese children The Guardian
• Child obesity clinics open after pandemic shone light on crisis The Independent

COVID-19 infection doubles the risk of psychiatric diagnoses and triples the risk of sleep problems

COVID-19 infection doubles the risk of psychiatric diagnoses and triples the risk of sleep problems COVID-19 infection leads to increased risk of fatigue, sleep problems and psychiatric issues long after patients are diagnosed with their initial illness, a new study finds. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Psychological Distress, Psychotropic Prescribing, Fatigue, and Sleep Problems Among UK Primary Care Patients (open access) JAMA Network Open
• Vaccine research among cyber attack targets BBC News
• Covid-19: Pfizer to allow developing nations to make its treatment pill BBC News
• Covid weekly deaths return to levels last seen in March The Daily Mail
• Professor Chris Whitty calls for calm over plans to jab children as young as FIVE against Covid The Daily Mail
• Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna are making combined profits of more than $1,000 every second The Daily Mail
• Too many NHS staff are still unvaccinated - this is how we change that The Guardian
• A moment that changed me: ‘After 102 days in intensive care, I finally came home’ The Guardian
• Michael Gove backer won £164m in PPE contracts after ‘VIP lane’ referral The Guardian
• NHS preparing for annual Covid-19 booster programme 'if needed', says chief executive iNews
• Mandatory Covid vaccine: 103,000 unvaccinated home care workers could be sacked under new rules iNews

MPs launch inquiry into future of GPs

MPs launch inquiry into future of GPs MPs have launched an inquiry into the future of general practice, with former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt warning the service is 'in crisis'.

There have been growing reports of patients showing up at A&E because they can't get access to a GP and not being seen face-to-face even when they do get an appointment. The Daily Mail

See also:

• MPs seek evidence on the future of General Practice Health and Social Care Committee

NHS beyond full stretch and preparing for most difficult winter ever

NHS beyond full stretch and preparing for most difficult winter ever NHS Providers says trusts are exploring all avenues to support patients and staff as the NHS heads into what trust leaders believe will be the "most difficult winter in the history of the health service".

The organisation, which represents every hospital, mental health, community and ambulance service in England, says that its regular annual survey of trust leaders shows a much higher level of concern about the coming winter than ever before. It is calling for immediate, emergency action to support social care.

See also:

• State of the provider sector November 2021 NHS Providers
• How the NHS is unravelling and why it won't stop BBC News
• Billions more funding for NHS will be wasted without hiring thousands more nurses and doctors The Daily Mail
• Staffing agencies triple rates as care homes and NHS fight over nurses The Guardian
• NHS consultant vacancies reaches highest level in almost 10 years iNews
• NHS chiefs warn care is compromised and patients will die due to a lack of staff Nursing Notes
• NHS facing 'most difficult winter in its history' as leaders call for £500 staff bonuses Sky News

10 unsustainable pressures on the health and care system in England

10 unsustainable pressures on the health and care system in England Members of the RCN working across health and social care in England dispute statements that the current situation in health and care is sustainable. Action needs to be taken to retain as many nursing staff as possible in light of serious staffing vacancies, as well as high levels of exhaustion and burnout. On top of this, the system is currently dealing with the immediate challenge of rising Covid-19 cases, intensified pressures as winter approaches and clearing the growing backlog of undelivered care to people in need. The RCN report has identified ten areas that currently demonstrate unsustainable, untenable conditions within the health and care system across England. All of these are reliant on nursing. Royal College of Nursing

Delayed hospital handovers: impact assessment of patient harm

Delayed hospital handovers: impact assessment of patient harm This report, based on a structured clinical review of handover delays at hospital emergency departments across England, finds that the proportion of patients who could be experiencing unacceptable levels of preventable harm is significant. Over eight in ten of those whose ‘handover’ (from ambulance clinician to hospital clinician) was delayed beyond 60 minutes were assessed as having potentially experienced some level of harm; 53 per cent low harm, 23 per cent moderate harm and 9 per cent (one patient in ten) could have been said to have experienced severe harm. Association of Ambulance Chief Executives

Health systems resilience during Covid-19: lessons for building back better

Health systems resilience during Covid-19: lessons for building back better This study report, developed together with the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Commission, draws out lessons for strengthening resilience to future health threats. It gathers the evidence on how countries have managed (or not managed) to re-engineer how they work, the ways in which they utilize their resources and the methods they use to face and counter the pressures exerted by both Covid and non-Covid challenges. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

No one’s listening: an inquiry into the avoidable deaths and failures of care for sickle cell patients in secondary care

No one’s listening: an inquiry into the avoidable deaths and failures of care for sickle cell patients in secondary care This report, jointly published with the Sickle Cell Society, has found “serious care failings” in acute services and evidence of attitudes underpinned by racism. These concerns have led to a fear and avoidance of hospitals for many people living with sickle cell. The report includes a number of recommendations and the APPG is calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement to prioritise taking urgent action. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia

See also:

• MPs find 'serious failings' in sickle cell care BBC News
• Sickle cell disease inquiry finds ‘serious care failings’ in NHS The Guardian

Government to invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research

Government to invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research People living with neurodegenerative diseases could live longer, healthier lives due to innovative new research, following a government commitment to invest £375 million over the next 5 years.

At least £50 million will be made available specifically for research to help find a cure for MND – a condition that affects the brain and nerves and affects 5,000 people in the UK. New, innovative projects will help researchers to better understand the disease and its related conditions, develop and test treatments and improve care for those living with MND. Department of Health and Social Care

UK hits 12 million top-ups in record-breaking week

UK hits 12 million top-ups in record-breaking week More than 2 million boosters have been given to people across the UK in the last week, as the vaccination programme continues to accelerate.

In a record-breaking week, the UK has topped 12 million booster and third jabs given in total across the UK – with hundreds of thousands of people coming forward every day to get the vital protection offered by top-up jabs ahead of the colder months. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government accepts JCVI advice on COVID-19 vaccination programme Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: COVID-19 booster vaccine programme for winter 2021 to 2022: JCVI statement, November 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
•  NHS vaccinates one million 12 to 15-year-olds NHS England
• Boosters give over 90% protection against symptomatic COVID-19 in adults over 50 UK Health Security Agency

Over-40s Covid booster due to 'waning' protection

Over-40s Covid booster due to 'waning' protection Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has said that "waning" protection against Covid, has led to a recommendation that everyone over the age of 40 receives a third booster dose of the vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also recommended that 16 and 17 years olds should receive a second dose. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid vaccine ‘waning immunity’: How worried should I be? BBC News
• Covid booster doses to be offered to over 40s BBC News
• Covid: Austria introduces lockdown for unvaccinated BBC News
• Covid vaccines: NHS jabs more than 1m children aged 12-15 in England BBC News
• UK bucking trend of rising Covid cases in Europe BBC News
• Oxfordshire-based company creates Covid vaccines given in a skin patch The Daily Mail
• Covid patients taking antidepressants are up to 30% less likely to die from the virus, study claims The Daily Mail
• Covid test firm ‘to sell swabs carrying customers’ DNA’ The Daily Telegraph
• No 10 plans booster jab requirement for people to obtain Covid pass The Guardian
• Covid ‘blizzard from east’ could disrupt Christmas, warns PM The Independent

Alarm over ‘serious’ delays in diagnosing childhood cancer in England

Alarm over ‘serious’ delays in diagnosing childhood cancer in England Health experts have raised the alarm over “serious” delays in diagnosing children and young people with cancer, as a study reveals the number found to have the disease during the pandemic fell by almost a fifth. The Guardian

NHS bosses advise all hospitals to review security after Liverpool blast

NHS bosses advise all hospitals to review security after Liverpool blast NHS chiefs are advising all hospitals to review their security arrangements in the wake of Sunday’s terrorist incident at Liverpool Women’s hospital, the Guardian can reveal.

NHS England is finalising new guidance to send to all 213 health trusts in England, which between them provide services at more than 500 hospital sites. The Guardian 

Covid could ‘ruin next five Christmases’ as expert warns jabs are not enough

Covid could ‘ruin next five Christmases’ as expert warns jabs are not enough Covid-19 could ruin Christmas for the next five years, a leading health expert has warned.

Professor Tim Spector has said the current vaccine and testing measures are not sufficient enough to keep the spread of the virus under control. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Traveller fined £300 for breaking quarantine after arriving back in Northampton from Belgium during Covid-19 pandemic Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Thousands of care home staff to lose jobs as Covid jab policy kicks in Northamptonshire Telegraph
• The 38 Northamptonshire neighbourhoods with Covid cases on the rise Northants Live
• Everything you need to know about the Northamptonshire Covid situation Northants Live

Two nurses studying in Northampton receive prestigious title for their dedication to the industry

Two nurses studying in Northampton receive prestigious title for their dedication to the industry Two nurses studying for advanced qualifications in Northampton have received prestigious, national titles for their dedication to the industry. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

'They saved my baby': Mum's emotional thank you to Northampton General Hospital

'They saved my baby': Mum's emotional thank you to Northampton General Hospital First time mum, Charlotte Gould-Leer, 22, was told the chances of saving her extremely premature baby were 'minimal' but, despite the odds, nurses and doctors in Northampton and Coventry were able to save little Christine's life. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

NHS performance summary: September-October 2021

NHS performance summary: September-October 2021 NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for August and September of this year. Here we show the performance against some key targets, including those set out in the 2021/22 operational planning guidance published in September.

A&E waiting times in October 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 a record high. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Pressures on the NHS are far from ‘sustainable’ The Health Foundation
• NHS waiting lists: how big is big? The King's Fund
• Health and care system stretched beyond its limits as winter approaches Nuffield Trust
• NHS waiting list hits ANOTHER record-high with 5.83MILLION patients in need of routine operations The Daily Mail
• Record 5.8m people in England waiting for hospital treatment The Guardian
• NHS waiting list at record high as 5.8 million The Independent
• What the latest NHS data tells us - and how many people in England are waiting for treatment Sky News
• A&E to ward bed waiting time at its longest ever, NHS England data shows Sky News

New report highlights persistent inequalities and continued inequitable care for pregnant women

New report highlights persistent inequalities and continued inequitable care for pregnant women The latest Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care study examines in detail the care of all women who died during, or up to one year after, pregnancy between 2017 and 2019 in the UK.

Pregnancy remains very safe in the UK, with the overall maternal death rate showing a slight decrease. Among 2,173,810 women who gave birth in 2017-2019, 191 died during or up to six weeks after pregnancy, and 495 during or up to one year after their pregnancy.

Nevertheless, the findings show a continued inequality in the mortality rates for women of different ethnic backgrounds, ages, and socio-economic circumstances. MBRRACE

See also:

• Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care Infographic MBRRACE
• Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care lay summary MBRRACE
• Black women four times more likely to die in childbirth BBC News
• Third of pregnant women’s deaths were avoidable, inquiry finds The Independent

The state of the state 2021-22: towards a new public sector normal

The state of the state 2021-22: towards a new public sector normal This is Deloitte and Reform's tenth annual report on government and public services. It blends a citizen survey (conducted by Ipsos MORI) with commentary built on interviews with fifty of the most senior figures in government and public services. These officials talked of organisational pressures, the impact of austerity and their concerns over funding for the future. This year's report also includes the views of business leaders on their experience of working alongside the public sector. Deloitte 

NHS chief announces next steps for local health systems

NHS chief announces next steps for local health systems The NHS will set out the next steps for how primary care networks will work with partners across newly formed integrated care systems to meet the health needs of people in their local areas.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard has asked Dr Claire Fuller, senior responsible officer of the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System, to set out how systems can accelerate implementation of the primary care, out of hospital care and prevention ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan and drive more integrated primary, community and social care services at a local level. NHS England 

Over 11 million people receive top-up COVID-19 vaccine

Over 11 million people receive top-up COVID-19 vaccine The vital booster programme has reached another milestone as more than 11.4 million people in the UK have now received their top-up jabs to maintain protection ahead of the winter months. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Medication holiday may boost vaccine protection

Covid: Medication holiday may boost vaccine protection An important trial will test how to boost Covid jab protection in vulnerable patients whose immune systems are weakened by drugs they need for other health conditions.

About 1.3 million people in the UK are on methotrexate for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. BBC News

See also: 

• A multi-centre randomised controlled trial examining the effects of temporarily suspending low-dose methotrexate treatment for two weeks after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster on vaccine response in immunosuppressed adults with inflammatory conditions and nested mechanistic study VROOM Study
• Covid: First UK case in pet dog confirmed by top vet BBC News
• Daily UK Covid cases rise for first time in 10 days The Daily Mail
• Jonathan Van-Tam says Britain's Covid crisis will be a 'lot calmer' after Easter The Daily Mail
• UK records 42,408 new Covid cases and 195 deaths Evening Standard

Alder Hey NHS Trust must pay boy £27m over brain injuries

Alder Hey NHS Trust must pay boy £27m over brain injuries A boy who suffered "catastrophic brain injuries" when doctors failed to see he had a virus and sent him home after he had a seizure has been awarded £27m. BBC News 

Menopause: Bereaved husband urges men to spot mental health signs

Menopause: Bereaved husband urges men to spot mental health signs A bereaved husband has urged men to recognise signs of mental health symptoms linked to the menopause.

Linda Salmon, 56, took her own life last April after her anxiety worsened during the Covid pandemic.

Her husband David said he had not realised the menopause could cause suicidal thoughts. BBC News

NHS ambulance delays leaving patients stuck at GP surgeries for hours

NHS ambulance delays leaving patients stuck at GP surgeries for hours Patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes or major breathing problems are becoming trapped for many hours in GP surgeries, unable to get to hospital, because ambulances are taking so long to turn up after the GP practice rings 999. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS responds to highest number of 999 calls on record NHS England
• ‘It’s awful’: what it’s like to work a 12-hour ambulance shift in England The Guardian
• A day with the paramedics on the frontline of the UK’s ambulance crisis – podcast The Guardian
• ‘It’s terrifying’: GP tells of wait with ill patients as ambulance fails to arrive The Guardian

Care home chaos commences as up to 60,000 staff sacked overnight

Care home chaos commences as up to 60,000 staff sacked overnight A care home manager broke down today after being forced to sack six staff members who refused to get vaccinated against Covid — as she pleaded with Boris Johnson to 'give us a break'. The Daily Mail

Blood test could identify patients at risk of type 2 diabetes almost 20 YEARS before, study claims

Blood test could identify patients at risk of type 2 diabetes almost 20 YEARS before, study claims A blood test may detect people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes two decades for the condition strikes, a study suggests.  

Swedish scientists found people with high levels of a protein called follistatin were twice as likely to develop the 'silent killer', compared to volunteers at the other end of the scale. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Elevated circulating follistatin associates with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (open access) Nature Communications

'Two jabs or no job' ultimatum could force 500 staff to quit Northamptonshire hospitals, warn government analysts

'Two jabs or no job' ultimatum could force 500 staff to quit Northamptonshire hospitals, warn government analysts Government analysts say a 'no-jabs, no-job' rule for the NHS could leave Northamptonshire's two main hospitals with up to 500 fewer staff.

Health secretary Sajid Javid announced on Tuesday (November 9) that vaccination would become a 'condition of deployment' for social care workers and frontline NHS employees from April. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Thousands of care home staff to lose jobs as Covid jab policy kicks in Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Special Constable accused of breaking Covid-19 lockdown rules at 2.30am 'gathering' in Northampton Northamptonshire Telegraph

Director to leave troubled Northamptonshire children's services

Director to leave troubled Northamptonshire children's services The head of a troubled children's services department leaving her job "poses a real threat to progress", according to opposition councillors.

Cathi Hadley originally took over as director of children's services at Northamptonshire County Council in September 2019, shortly after the service had been rated inadequate. BBC Northampton 

Covid-19 and the UK's health care performance: how does it compare on the international stage?

Covid-19 and the UK's health care performance: how does it compare on the international stage? The latest edition of Health at a glance, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s biennial evaluation of the performance of health systems in OECD countries, extends its usual remit by assessing the impact of ‘the most important health crisis since the 1918 influenza pandemic’. The King's Fund

See also: 

• The UK entered the pandemic in a vulnerable position with both systemic weaknesses in the NHS and poor underlying health The Health Foundation

Landmark international study highlights need to reduce time that hip fracture patients spend in hospital in England

Landmark international study highlights need to reduce time that hip fracture patients spend in hospital in England An innovative international study has used electronic medical records to compare the cost and quality of care between health care systems in 11 OECD countries, including the NHS in England. The Health Foundation 

The challenges of developing integrated care partnerships (ICPs): a discussion

The challenges of developing integrated care partnerships (ICPs): a discussion Following the publication of the national ICP engagement document, the Integrated Care Systems (ICS) Network hosted a ‘Spotlight’ session with the Department for Health and Social Care, providing ICS leaders with an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about ICP establishment. This briefing summarises the key issues covered. NHS Confederation 

NHS has reached tipping point, warn healthcare leaders

NHS has reached tipping point, warn healthcare leaders The pressure on the NHS is now at unsustainable levels and patient safety and care are being put at risk by staff shortages, according to a new poll of NHS leaders by the NHS Confederation.

NHS leaders in England warn that we have reached a tipping point, with nearly nine in 10 (88%) saying the demands on their organisation are unsustainable. Almost the same number (87%) also say that a lack of staffing in the NHS as a whole is putting patient safety and care at risk.

See also: 

• Under pressure: NHS priorities this winter NHS Confederation
• NHS is at breaking point and putting patients at high risk, bosses warn The Guardian

Lives at risk from 'unacceptable' ambulance waits

Lives at risk from 'unacceptable' ambulance waits Lives are at risk because patients are facing unacceptably long waits for a 999 response, paramedics across the UK have told a BBC investigation.

Average waits for emergency callouts for problems such as heart attacks and strokes are taking more than twice as long as they should in England.

Targets are being missed in the rest of UK too, with some seriously-ill waiting up to nine hours for an ambulance. BBC News 

See also:

• Patients lives 'at risk' from record ambulance waits, warns College of Paramedics The Daily Telegraph