Policy paper: From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives

Policy paper: From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives A 10-year plan to cut crime and save lives by reducing the supply and demand for drugs and delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Largest ever increase in funding for drug treatment Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: First data points to Omicron re-infection risk

Covid: First data points to Omicron re-infection risk The first real world data showing the coronavirus variant Omicron may evade some of our immunity has been reported by scientists in South Africa.

Scientists have detected a surge in the number of people catching Covid multiple times.

It is a rapid analysis and not definitive, but fits with concern about the mutations the variant possesses. BBC News

See also:

• Sarah Gilbert: Next pandemic could be more lethal than Covid BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Why our black and South Asian friends and family still won't have a jab BBC News
• Covid: Travel changes too late to halt potential new wave - scientist BBC News
• Covid: GPs can defer some services in booster jab push BBC News
• Covid: Pfizer and Moderna jabs give best overall boost, UK trial finds BBC News
• Community transmission of Omicron is now happening in 'multiple regions of England' The Daily Mail
• Omicron-stricken South Africa sees cases almost TRIPLE in a week as hospital admissions DOUBLE The Daily Mail
• Omicron wave could put as much pressure on hospitals as last winter even if it IS mild The Daily Mail
• Omicron will become UK's dominant variant 'within weeks', says scientist The Daily Telegraph
• More than 300,000 housebound people yet to get Covid booster vaccines The Daily Telegraph
• Covid in England roundup: the risks, the data, the outlook The Guardian
• Sage scientists seek balanced UK response to Omicron concerns The Guardian
• 1,000 omicron cases may already be in UK as ‘variant spreads faster than Delta,’ expert warns The Independent

Doctors report 13,000 cancelled operations in UK over two months

Doctors report 13,000 cancelled operations in UK over two months UK hospitals have cancelled at least 13,000 operations over the last two months as they struggle to cope with record demand for NHS care and people sick with Covid-19.

Figures collected by A&E doctors showed that 13,061 planned surgeries had to be called off during October and November because of shortages of beds and staff.

The percentage of people spending at least 12 hours in A&E is double what it was this time last year. The Guardian

See also:

• A&E crisis sparks 220 lost operations every day as NHS creaks under weight of Covid fallout The Daily Mail
• NHS cancelled 13000 operations in last two months The Independent

NHS forecasts 230,000 extra cases of PTSD in England due to Covid

NHS forecasts 230,000 extra cases of PTSD in England due to Covid The NHS is forecasting there will be 230,000 new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder in England as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, official figures show.

Covid-19 has increased exposure to events that could cause PTSD, an anxiety disorder triggered by very stressful, frightening or distressing events, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It says the NHS is already facing the biggest backlog of those waiting for mental health help in its history. The Guardian

See also: 

• The explosion of Covid PTSD cases is a mental health crisis in the making | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett The Guardian

Couple whose unborn baby died following series of blunders get huge compensation payout

Couple whose unborn baby died following series of blunders get huge compensation payout A couple whose baby was stillborn following a series of blunders by NHS staff have received £2.8million in compensation.

The out-of-court settlement – the largest for a stillbirth clinical negligence case in the UK – was agreed five years after Sarah and Jack Hawkins' daughter Harriet died. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Stillborn baby's parents receive £2.8m from Nottingham hospital trust BBC News
• Scandal-hit hospital to pay £2.8m after baby death The Independent

KGH says sorry after another medication mix-up

KGH says sorry after another medication mix-up Kettering General Hospital bosses have apologised after another medication blunder - the FIFTH never event to take place there this year.

An investigation has been launched after the serious mix-up - classed as the kind of mistake which should never happen - saw a patient given medication through the wrong route in October. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Doing a lot more with only slightly more: the NHS’s Covid-19 recovery and public expectations

Doing a lot more with only slightly more: the NHS’s Covid-19 recovery and public expectations Covid-19 demanded that the government commit massive increases to the health budget: over the past two years it has spent £80 billion on tackling the pandemic, 40 per cent above previous health spending plans. While we all hope that health spending will not need to return to these levels in the near future, the legacy costs of responding to the acute phase of the pandemic are great. The King's Fund

Misconduct in public office: why did so many thousands die unnecessarily?

Misconduct in public office: why did so many thousands die unnecessarily? A panel of four, chaired by Michael Mansfield QC, heard evidence from over 40 witnesses including bereaved families, frontline NHS and key workers, national and international experts, trade union and council leaders, and representatives from disabled people’s and pensioners’ organisations. This report summarises the concerns raised, including NHS preparedness, government response, the impact on various population groups, the impact on frontline staff, inequalities and discrimination and more. People's Covid Inquiry

The state of health visiting 2021: we need more health visitors

The state of health visiting 2021: we need more health visitors This report aims to capture the experiences of frontline health visiting practitioners working with families across the United Kingdom in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It finds that the needs of babies, young children and families are increasing, there are not enough health visitors to meet these rising levels of need, and families are experiencing an ongoing postcode lottery of support. Institute of Health Visiting

Digital transformation in community health services

Digital transformation in community health services This report highlights how community health services have been delivering better care for patients and service users through remote monitoring, virtual consultations and self-management tools. It is informed by case studies and a survey of community service leaders. It finds that a number of systemic issues, including insufficient capital and revenue funding for the technological transformation needed, have dogged digital roll-out in community services. Community Network

Ten year vision to improve adult social care

Ten year vision to improve adult social care People who need care, the social care workforce and unpaid carers will benefit from the ten-year vision for adult social care.

The white paper is part of the government’s wider social care plans, backed by £5.4 billion, which for the first time provides a limit to the cost of care for everyone in the adult social care system, and significantly increases state support. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper Department of Health and Social Care
• New vision for social care will feel like hollow words without the money to deliver it The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the government's adult social care White Paper The King's Fund
• LGA responds to adult social care reform white paper Local Government Association
• Social care white paper an important step but must be financially backed to pull care sector back from the brink Nuffield Trust
• Social care: Plans to fund improvement in England unveiled BBC News
• Social care white paper widely criticised Channel 4 News
• A £500m plan to boost social care staff is on the way as 40,000 staff leave sector in just six months The Daily Mail
• Time for honesty if Boris Johnson really wants to fix social care The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt and Labour attack ministers’ social care plan The Guardian
• What are the Government’s plans for social care? The Independent
• PM told to 'back up words with cash' on social care plan to bring sector ‘back from brink’ ITV News
• Social care white paper ‘falls well short’ Local Government Chronicle

Government agrees new deals to future proof vaccine rollout in light of new variant

Government agrees new deals to future proof vaccine rollout in light of new variant The government has signed new contracts to secure the supply of our vaccine stock to future proof the country’s vaccine programme.

The new contracts with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were accelerated in light of the new variant, as part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the government is doing everything it can while scientists across the world learn more about Omicron. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Trigger of rare blood clots with AstraZeneca jab found by scientists

Covid: Trigger of rare blood clots with AstraZeneca jab found by scientists Scientists believe they have found "the trigger" that leads to extremely rare blood clots after the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

The team - in Cardiff and the US - have shown in exquisite detail how a protein in the blood is attracted to a key component of the vaccine.

They think this kicks off a chain reaction, involving the immune system, that can culminate in dangerous clots. BBC News

See also: 

• ChAdOx1 interacts with CAR and PF4 with implications for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (open access) Science Advances
• UK approves another antibody treatment for Covid BBC News
• Covid: Senior GP's capacity warning over booster rollout BBC News
• Covid: Don't kiss strangers under mistletoe - minister BBC News
• Poorly controlled asthma 'increases Covid risk for children' BBC News
• Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla: My wife's vaccine death is fake news BBC News
• UK's Covid outbreak rebounds as infections rise 11% in a week to 48374 The Daily Mail
• Worldwide health alert after cardiologist says he caught Covid variant during London conference trip The Daily Telegraph
• Two more rounds of boosters to come as Government orders ‘variant-proof’ Covid vaccines The Daily Telegraph
• Sajid Javid says delivering Covid booster jabs is NHS’s new national mission The Guardian
• Ministers should face misconduct charges over Covid crisis, say UK campaigners The Guardian
• Pressure on Hancock over pub landlord’s Covid deal The Guardian
• Will the Omicron Covid variant cancel Christmas? The Guardian
• UK ministers secure 114m more Covid vaccines for next two years The Guardian
• Omicron could see ‘very large wave of infections’, leaked report warns The Independent
• NHS staff in Scotland to use transparent face masks The Independent
• No.10 staff repeatedly held Christmas lockdown parties The Independent

Safety watchdog launches national investigation into ambulance delays

Safety watchdog launches national investigation into ambulance delays The national patient safety watchdog has launched an investigation into the “significant patient harm” caused by Ambulances being forced to wait with patients outside of A&E, The Independent has learned. 

PMQs: Boris Johnson denies hospitals plan labelled unachievable

PMQs: Boris Johnson denies hospitals plan labelled unachievable Prime minister contradicts health department’s response to report of ‘red’ rating for new hospitals scheme

Boris Johnson has denied a report that his flagship pledge to build 40 new hospitals has been labelled as unachievable by an official watchdog, even though the health department has confirmed this is the case.

Challenged about the programme during prime minister’s questions, Johnson conceded that not all the projects were completely new hospitals. The Guardian

See also: 

• Watchdog says new hospital building programme is ‘unachievable’ Health Service Journal
• What's happened to the 40 new hospitals pledge? BBC News Reality Check
• Sir Keir Starmer accuses Boris Johnson of calling NHS refurbishments 'new hospitals' after wording advice leaked Sky News

Christmas 'tree of light' helps Northamptonshire Health Charity raise over £1000 for local hospitals

Christmas 'tree of light' helps Northamptonshire Health Charity raise over £1000 for local hospitals People in Northampton will be able to honour their loved ones by brightening 'Christmas tree of light', as part of charity fundraiser. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

NHS backlogs and waiting times in England

NHS backlogs and waiting times in England Recovering elective and cancer care performance to the standards required will be a huge and lengthy challenge for the NHS, and there is a real risk that the waiting list for patients seeking elective care will be longer in 2025 than it is today, according to analysis from the National Audit Office.

See also:

• NAO delivers cold dose of reality for government’s NHS recovery plan The Health Foundation
• NHS will have to work harder than ever to clear momentous care backlog Nuffield Trust
• NHS backlog impacting on patient care and GP workload - needs addressing urgently, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCN responds to NAO report on NHS backlog Royal College of Nursing
• NHS waiting list could DOUBLE to 12 million in just four years, damning report warns The Daily Mail
• 'Biggest cancer catastrophe ever' to hit NHS as up to 740000 potential cases missed The Daily Telegraph
• Up to 12m people could be on NHS waiting list in England by 2025 The Guardian
• Up to 740,000 cancer cases needing urgent GP referrals could have been missed since first lockdown The Independent

Invisible crisis in home care unfolding as social care sector loses up to 50,000 staff in lead up to winter months

Invisible crisis in home care unfolding as social care sector loses up to 50,000 staff in lead up to winter months Our analysis reveals that the social care sector in England may have lost up to 50,000 workers across all providers of care, heaping pressure onto burnt out existing staff and restricting access to care in the leadup to a very challenging winter. Nuffield Trust

See also: 

• Through a glass darkly: the unseen crisis in home care Nuffield Trust
• Chart of the week: The tumbling numbers of social care staff Nuffield Trust

Over £23 million investment to end new HIV infections by 2030

Over £23 million investment to end new HIV infections by 2030 The government has bolstered its commitment to achieve zero new HIV infections, AIDS and HIV related deaths in England by 2030 via a new action plan backed by £23 million of funding.

Current HIV prevention methods are working – with a 35% reduction in new HIV diagnoses in England between 2014 and 2019. This represents one of the biggest decreases worldwide. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Policy paper: Towards Zero: the HIV Action Plan for England - 2022 to 2025 Department of Health and Social Care
• World Aids Day: 'I saw my partner and friends die of the disease' BBC News
• Even after 40 years the response to Aids in many countries is still held back by stigma | Hakima Himmich and Mike Podmore The Guardian
• World Aids Day: Government pledges millions to end HIV infections in England by 2030 Sky News

All adults to be offered COVID-19 boosters by end of January

All adults to be offered COVID-19 boosters by end of January All eligible adults in England aged 18 and over will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of January.

Following advice from the independent experts at the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), everyone who is currently eligible - including those aged 40 and over, health and social care workers and those at increased risk from the virus due to health conditions - will be able to book their jab from three months after their second dose, meaning an additional 7 million people over 40 are now eligible. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary statement 30 November Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19 variants identified in the UK UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination: booster dose resources UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists

Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists The impact of the Omicron variant on the UK is "highly uncertain" but may require a "very stringent response", government advisers have said.

The BBC has seen leaked minutes of a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies held on Monday.

They said officials should prepare now for a "potentially significant" wave of infections while data on the variant is being collected and analysed. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Can the NHS boost the booster programme? BBC News
• Covid booster: Hospitals and pharmacies urged to ramp up rollout BBC News
• Covid: GPs have 'no capacity' to help with booster jabs BBC News
• Covid: No need to change Christmas plans says Sajid Javid BBC News
• Covid: Is it safe to hit the office Christmas party? BBC News
• Covid: WHO urges those at risk from disease to delay travel if not fully vaccinated BBC News
• People who survive severe COVID are 2.5 times as likely to die within a year as those not infected The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid try to quell hospitality fears over limiting socialising The Daily Mail
• Omicron variant is unlikely to cause severe illness in vaccinated people, BioNTech says The Daily Mail
• No 10 must implement plan B before hospitals fill up, NHS leaders warn The Guardian
• This time we know the Covid risks. We have simply decided to manage them | Zoe Williams The Guardian
• Boosters 'huge logistical challenge' for the NHS, experts say The Independent
• NHS asks for army to help with Covid booster vaccine drive The Independent
• Experts fear new Covid variant will impact effectiveness of key drugs The Independent

New 'NHS Reserves' scheme calls on retired nurses to return to work

New 'NHS Reserves' scheme calls on retired nurses to return to work The government is calling on retired NHS nurses and colleagues to return to work, as part of a health service “reserves” scheme being launched across the country. Nursing Times 

New social care plans risk backlash over failure to tackle England’s winter crisis

New social care plans risk backlash over failure to tackle England’s winter crisis Exclusive: long-awaited white paper provides no new funding to help with care providers’ immediate problems

Ministers are risking a fresh backlash over social care by unveiling long awaited proposals that will offer no new funding to help crisis-hit care providers through winter, the Guardian understands. 

Health chiefs recall batches of blood pressure pills because they contain cancer-causing chemical

Health chiefs recall batches of blood pressure pills because they contain cancer-causing chemical Dozens of batches of a blood pressure pills have been recalled due to being contaminated with 'unacceptable' levels of a potentially cancer causing chemical.

Pharmacies and health professionals were ordered to immediately stop supplying 44 batches of the drug irbesartan and quarantine all remaining stock after they were found to contain a substance called ABZT. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Precautionary recall of specific batches of blood pressure drug irbesartan Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Everything you need to know about the Northamptonshire Covid situation

Everything you need to know about the Northamptonshire Covid situation Christmas is on the way and Northamptonshire locals will be hoping for a much more "normal" festive season than the one last year.

Despite Health Secretary Sajid Javid encouraging people to maintain their plans for December, the arrival of the Omicron variant has brought uncertainty. Northants Live

See also: 

• Face masks now compulsory in shops and on public transport in England amid spread of Covid Omicron variant Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Not wearing face masks in shops and on public transport punishable by £200 fine Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• All the places you now have to wear a face mask in England - and where you don’t Northamptonshire Telegraph
• New Kettering Covid vaccine site to open as town's booster issue raised in Parliament Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Schools could close early for Christmas as new Covid guidance issued for pupils Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Your view: Government face masks rules dividing opinion in across Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Nurse who took morphine from Northampton hospital is struck off

Nurse who took morphine from Northampton hospital is struck off A nurse has been struck off after taking morphine from a ward at Northampton General Hospital.

Matija Konjevic has been sacked after he was found to have taken 50ml of morphine sulphate - commonly known as morphine - from the Rowan Ward at the Northamptonshire hospital. Northants Live 

Patient experience of NHS and social care service

Patient experience of NHS and social care service Using data from national patient surveys this analysis look at trends in patients’ experiences of NHS and social care services. QualityWatch is a Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation programme providing independent scrutiny into how the quality of health and social care is changing over time. 

Establishing a collaborative international recruitment alliance

Establishing a collaborative international recruitment alliance The Devon Alliance for International Recruitment (the Alliance) is a partnership of six NHS trusts supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement funding. It was established as a collaborative model for international recruitment focused on reducing costs and eliminating waste in the system. So far, 146 overseas nurses have come to Devon, and plans are underway to expand this model to wider health and social care roles across the integrated care system (ICS). NHS Employers 

ADASS home care and workforce rapid survey: November 2021

ADASS home care and workforce rapid survey: November 2021 This snap survey of the state of social care services has revealed a rapidly deteriorating picture of hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people left waiting for help despite record increases in care being provided to people in their own homes. Directors of social services across England are expressing unprecedented alarm at the findings as winter approaches. They say the government must act to stabilise the care system. This survey has found: almost 400,000 people are now waiting for an assessment of their needs or service; more than 1.5 million hours of commissioned home care could not be provided between August and October because of a lack of staff, despite record growth in provision; and one in two councils has had to respond to a care home closure or bankruptcy over the past six months. Association of Directors of Adult Social Services 

Independent report: UK vaccine response to the Omicron variant: JCVI advice

Independent report: UK vaccine response to the Omicron variant: JCVI advice Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Guidance: Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make one Department of Health and Social Care
• Statement to Parliament: Oral statement to update on the Omicron variant Department of Health and Social Care
• G7 joint statement on the Omicron variant Department of Health and Social Care
• Total NHS COVID vaccines top 96 million, amid concern over new variant NHS England
• JCVI advice on COVID-19 booster vaccines for those aged 18 to 39 and a second dose for ages 12 to 15 UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Face masks rules return in England amid Omicron spread

Covid: Face masks rules return in England amid Omicron spread Face coverings have become mandatory again on public transport and shops in England in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

People arriving in the UK from abroad will now also have to take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

It comes after 14 cases of the new variant were detected in the UK. BBC News

See also: 

• Omicron: WHO warns of 'high infection risk' around globe BBC News
• Covid: Sajid Javid on rising cases of Omicron in UK BBC News
• Covid: Omicron variant 'not all doom and gloom' BBC News
• Covid: All UK adults should get Covid booster, say advisers BBC News
• Omicron: How do you detect it? BBC News
• Could Omicron be GOOD news? Variant 'might speed up end of pandemic if it causes mild illness' The Daily Mail
• BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson announce they will be working on Omicron specific COVID-19 vaccine The Daily Mail
• Omicron Covid variant Q&A: How the symptoms differ and what protection vaccines offer The Daily Telegraph
• Is the NHS in a position to handle the Covid Omicron variant? The Guardian
• Covid: UK aims for 500,000 jabs a day in bid to outpace Omicron variant The Guardian
• UK’s minimum gap for Covid booster jabs to be halved to three months The Guardian
• Omicron: NHS chief urges volunteers to help 'vital' booster campaign to combat new Covid threat iNews

Dr Michael Watt: General Medical Council welcomes voluntary erasure appeal

Dr Michael Watt: General Medical Council welcomes voluntary erasure appeal The General Medical Council (GMC) has welcomed an appeal against a Medical Practitioners' Tribunal ruling to allow Dr Michael Watt's voluntary erasure from the medical register.

Dr Michael Watt's work, and its oversight, is the subject of ongoing inquiries.

He made an application to be removed from the register in October. BBC News 

Dying patients go without care as community nurses ‘on their knees’

Dying patients go without care as community nurses ‘on their knees’ Dying patients are going without care in their own homes because of a collapse in community nursing services, new data shared with The Independent reveals.

Across England a third of district nurses say they are now being forced to delay visits to end of life care patients because of surging demand and a lack of staff. This is up from just 2 per cent in 2015. 

Excellence Awards for 12 amazing individuals and teams who helped Northampton General Hospital deliver great care during Covid

Excellence Awards for 12 amazing individuals and teams who helped Northampton General Hospital deliver great care during Covid Some Northampton NHS heroes finally took a few hours off to have their work during the Covid-19 pandemic recognised at a special ceremony. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton Macmillan nurse urges people not to ignore the early signs of lung cancer as A&E admissions rise

Northampton Macmillan nurse urges people not to ignore the early signs of lung cancer as A&E admissions rise A cancer nurse from Northampton is urging people not to ignore the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer amid reports of a rise in emergency hospital admissions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

West Northamptonshire: Cold weather prompts rough sleeper shelter scheme

West Northamptonshire: Cold weather prompts rough sleeper shelter scheme An emergency protocol aimed at keeping rough sleepers safe and warm in extreme weather has been launched in west Northamptonshire.

The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (Swep) will operate from Friday until at least 09:00 GMT on Monday.

Anyone sleeping rough will be given access to emergency accommodation. BBC Northampton

Untapped potential: district nursing services and the avoidance of unplanned admission to hospital

Untapped potential: district nursing services and the avoidance of unplanned admission to hospital This report describes how District Nurse Team Leaders have advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis and patient management which could be used to provide safe and effective care for people at home, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. It argues that the NHS is failing to capitalise on the skills, knowledge and experience of District Nurses and instead is investing in new specialist teams of staff in the community, which may impact negatively on the continuity of care. At the same time, the number of District Nurses has fallen dramatically. The Queen's Nursing Institute

Government takes decisive action against new COVID-19 variant

Government takes decisive action against new COVID-19 variant From Tuesday 30 November, face coverings will be mandatory in shops and on public transport and all travellers returning to the UK will require PCR testing. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• First UK cases of Omicron variant identified Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19 variants identified in the UK UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
• Third COVID jabs available to book online for people who are severely immunosuppressed NHS England

Omicron symptoms mild so far, says South African doctor who spotted it

Omicron symptoms mild so far, says South African doctor who spotted it Dr Angelique Coetzee, the South African doctor who first spotted the new Covid variant Omicron, says the patients seen so far have had "extremely mild symptoms" - but more time is needed before we know the seriousness of the disease for vulnerable people. BBC News

See also:

• New Covid variant: Is the government going far enough on Omicron? BBC News
• Covid: JCVI scientists to announce decision on booster rollout BBC News
• Covid variant: Mask wearing will be a legal requirement, says Javid BBC News
• Covid: Face masks re-introduced as UK Omicron cases found BBC News
• New Covid variant: PCR testing to be introduced for arrivals in UK BBC News
• New Covid variant: Chris Whitty on why scientists are concerned about new Covid variant BBC News
• Covid: New Omicron variant not a disaster, says Sage scientist BBC News
• Merck's antiviral COVID-19 pill can reduce risk of death from the virus by 30%, study finds The Daily Mail
• One in 65 people had Covid in England last week as cases started to rise again, official data shows The Daily Mail
• Pfizer, Moderna say they can quickly update COVID-19 vaccines 'if they need to' The Daily Mail
• Daily UK Covid cases breach 50,000 for first time in a month The Daily Mail
• Why the omicron Covid variant is the most concerning so far The Daily Telegraph
• Failure to share Covid vaccines ‘coming back to haunt us’, says Gordon Brown The Guardian
• Omicron variant unlikely to reboot Covid in UK, expert says The Guardian
• Scotland finds six cases of omicron Covid variant The Independent

'World-leading' Down's syndrome bill clears first hurdle in Parliament

'World-leading' Down's syndrome bill clears first hurdle in Parliament Plans to ensure people with Down's syndrome get lifelong care have passed the first hurdle on the way to being law in England.

MP Liam Fox said his bill was needed now because people with Down's syndrome are starting to outlive their parents. BBC News

Another U-turn likely from UK government on care costs bill

Another U-turn likely from UK government on care costs bill The government is preparing to drop controversial plans that would force poorer pensioners to pay more for their social care, in order to avert a possible Commons defeat that would further damage Boris Johnson’s authority, the Observer has been told.

See also:

• Closures and soaring waiting lists: crunch time for social care services The Guardian

People with autism are being locked away in institutions. A radical change is needed

People with autism are being locked away in institutions. A radical change is needed | Sheila Hollins My panel oversees reviews into detention cases of people with autism. I see how the system fails those it should help.

Not many people have to worry that their children will be forcibly removed or locked away from society. Yet this is something I do worry about. My autistic son, who also has a learning disability, experiences the world differently. I am often in awe of his perspective, and he has inspired my more than 40 years of professional and voluntary effort advocating for better understanding, care and support. The Guardian

Unvaccinated pregnant women are pushing NHS maternity services to 'crisis point', doctors warn

Unvaccinated pregnant women are pushing NHS maternity services to 'crisis point', doctors warn The growing number of unvaccinated pregnant women with Covid on labour wards is pushing some maternity services to the brink, NHS doctors have warned.

Senior midwives and obstetricians have revealed that units in certain areas are in a 'crisis situation', where already time-stretched staff are being forced to abandon healthy women mid-labour in order to tend to the complex needs of Covid-positive expectant mothers. The Daily Mail

Spine injury patients 'abandoned' by NHS mental health as a third of sufferers consider suicide

Spine injury patients 'abandoned' by NHS mental health as a third of sufferers consider suicide People left disabled by spinal-cord injuries are being ‘abandoned’ by NHS mental health services, despite being far more likely to suffer severe depression.

Doctors and campaigners are now calling for urgent action as new data shows a third of sufferers frequently think about taking their own life - yet only a third have been able to access adequate mental health support. The Daily Mail

Initiative launched to encourage Bangladeshi and other communities in Northampton to get Covid booster jabs

Initiative launched to encourage Bangladeshi and other communities in Northampton to get Covid booster jabs A community group is campaigning to encourage as many people as possible, specifically in the Bangladeshi community, to get their jabs this winter.

Centre for Policy, Promotion and Prevention (CPPP) - a community interest company (CIC) - is launching a new initiative to encourage Bangladeshi and other Diaspora communities to take the Covid booster jab and flu jab. Northamptonshire Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Highly mutated 'Nu' Covid strain found in South Africa - here's what you need to know Northamptonshire Telegraph

Age UK brands system 'grossly unfair' as figures show one-third of Northamptonshire adults denied free NHS care

Age UK brands system 'grossly unfair' as figures show one-third of Northamptonshire adults denied free NHS care One-third of Northamptonshire adults with ongoing health needs were denied free NHS care over the summer, according to official figures.

Adults requiring care and support outside hospital settings can apply for a free package of care known as NHS Continuing Healthcare. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Health organisations warn of mounting patient safety crisis in Urgent and Emergency Care

Health organisations warn of mounting patient safety crisis in Urgent and Emergency Care Nearly two thirds of A&Es across the UK had ambulances waiting to transfer patients every day in the past week, according to a new survey from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

See also: 

• Urgent and emergency pathway under significant pressure NHS Providers
• Ambulances forced to queue daily outside A&Es, study suggests BBC News

Patient experience of NHS and social care services

Patient experience of NHS and social care services In our latest update we look at trends in patients’ experiences of NHS and social care services. 

Patient experience is a key element of quality, along with safety and clinical effectiveness. The NHS Constitution pledges to encourage patients to give feedback on their experience and use this to improve services. One of the ways that people can feed back is through national patient surveys. Information from these surveys enables us to understand what service users think about their care and treatment, and to track the quality of care over time. Nuffield Trust 

£5 million launched to support suicide prevention services

£5 million launched to support suicide prevention services People experiencing suicidal thoughts or approaching a crisis will be supported by a £5 million boost to suicide prevention charities, following increased demand during the pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Guidance: Suicide Prevention Fund 2021 to 2022 Department of Health and Social Care

Six African countries added to red list to protect public health as UK designates new Variant under Investigation

Six African countries added to red list to protect public health as UK designates new Variant under Investigation The government is taking decisive precautionary action against a new COVID-19 variant by introducing travel restrictions on arrivals from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia from midday Friday 26 November.

It comes as Variant B.1.1.529 is declared a variant under investigation (VuI) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Coronavirus variant: UK put safety first over Africa travel - Shapps BBC News
• 'More infectious and vaccine resistant' Botswana Covid variant is driving South African surge The Daily Mail
• Public must prepare for change in restrictions in wake of new South African Covid variant, JCVI scientist warns The Daily Telegraph
• South Africa to be put on England’s travel red list over new Covid variant The Guardian
• Parachute in extra vaccine supplies to target new variant, say experts The Independent
• Everything we know about the new Covid variant The Independent
• Covid ‘super variant’ with 32 mutations found with cases in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong iNews
• Covid: What do we know about the new southern African variant and should we be worried? ITV News
• Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert Nature
• What we know so far about AY.4.2 and other new coronavirus variants New Scientist

Covid vaccines safe in pregnancy, data shows

Covid vaccines safe in pregnancy, data shows The UK's Health Security Agency says its analysis of English data shows Covid vaccines are safe in pregnancy, reinforcing international evidence.

The agency found similar rates of stillbirths and preterm births for vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers.

Researchers say women should feel confident the jabs will help protect them and urge more to take them. BBC News

See also:

• Less than QUARTER of pregnant women in the UK have had a Covid vaccine, official data shows The Daily Mail
• Number of Brits falling ill with Covid every day jumped 18% last week to 76,728 The Daily Mail
• The forgotten Covid jab that might have NO side effects on kids The Daily Mail
• EU set to propose 'nine-month expiry date' on Covid vaccine passports for travel The Daily Telegraph
• Warning over gap in Covid vaccination levels for black pregnant women The Independent
• Warning of 50,000 cancer cases ‘missing’ due to pandemic The Independent

Shropshire baby deaths: Ockenden report delayed until March

Shropshire baby deaths: Ockenden report delayed until March A major review investigating hundreds of cases in which mothers and babies may have been harmed has been delayed until March 2022.

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden has been looking at services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTh) and her findings had been due in December.

The delay follows the recent emergence of "very substantial information", she told families. BBC News 

Surgeon's CQC whistleblower claims branded fanciful

Surgeon's CQC whistleblower claims branded fanciful A doctor's claim he was targeted by the healthcare regulator in England because he was a whistleblower has been described as "fanciful".

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Shyam Kumar alleges his role as a special adviser to the Care Quality Commission was ended unfairly.

The decision was tied to concerns he raised about the regulator's hospital-inspection regime, he says. BBC News 

Plan to scrap tens of millions of NHS appointments ‘could put patients at risk’

Plan to scrap tens of millions of NHS appointments ‘could put patients at risk’ Plans to scrap tens of millions of “unnecessary” hospital follow-up appointments could put patients at risk and add to the overload at GP surgeries, NHS leaders and doctors are warning.

Health service leaders in England are finalising a radical plan under which hospital consultants will undertake far fewer outpatient appointments and instead perform more surgery to help cut the NHS backlog and long waits for care that many patients experience. The Guardian

‘Broken and exhausted’: GPs in England vote in favour of industrial action

‘Broken and exhausted’: GPs in England vote in favour of industrial action BMA ballot follows government drive to force surgeries to increase face-to-face appointments

GPs in England have voted in favour of taking limited forms of industrial action to protest against the government’s drive to force them to see patients face to face.

The results led the profession’s new leader to warn ministers that “demoralised, broken and exhausted” family doctors may refuse to undertake some normal duties to show their anger. The Guardian

See also: 

• BMA extremely disappointed that pay uplift for doctors in England doesn’t adequately reward doctors and demands fair uplifts BMA
• Continued rise in appointments shows GPs are doing more and more to deliver care for patients BMA
• A GP’s perspective on the future of general practice The Health Foundation
• Are we seeing the decline of general practice, or its rebirth? (podcast) The Health Foundation
• General practice 'busier and busier' as winter approaches, figures show Royal College of General Practitioners
• Number of GP appointments with an actual doctor drops below 50% for first time this year The Daily Mail
• GPs back strike action over face-to-face appointments The Daily Telegraph
• 'Line in the sand': GPC chair offers olive branch to government but warns GPs ready to fight GPonline
• GPs saw nearly two thirds of patients face to face last month Pulse

NHS race body commits to avoiding blanket terms such as 'BAME'

NHS race body commits to avoiding blanket terms such as 'BAME' An independent body set up by the NHS to tackle health inequalities has formally committed to never use blanket acronyms such as “BAME” after feedback that they are not representative.

The NHS Race and Health Observatory launched a four-week consultation with the public in July on how best to collectively refer to people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. The Independent

See also: 

• Survey finds ‘BAME’, ‘BME’ and ‘Ethnic Minority’ not representative NHS Race and Health Observatory

Covid-19 vaccine 'Big Weekend' as drive to boost 1.1million jabs total continues in Northamptonshire

Covid-19 vaccine 'Big Weekend' as drive to boost 1.1million jabs total continues in Northamptonshire Thousands of extra appointments and a string of drop-in clinics are being made available on a 'Big Weekend' for Covid-19 vaccinations in Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Thug's £1,800 court bill for shoving nurse against a wall during routine Northampton GP appointment

Thug's £1,800 court bill for shoving nurse against a wall during routine Northampton GP appointment A Northampton man has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £800 compensation for shoving a GP nurse against a wall.

Magistrates heard how Ionut-Bogdan Anghel, aged 41, suddenly became aggressive while having a routine injection — not a Covid vaccination — at a surgery in East Hunsbury in June this year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Fit for the future: what can the NHS learn about digital health care from other European countries?

Fit for the future: what can the NHS learn about digital health care from other European countries? The rapid increase in the use of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that digital health technology will be a fundamental part of health system recovery and for preparing for the future. This report examines the approach that five European countries have taken to implementing digital technology and draw out learnings for the NHS. Nuffield Trust

Invisible women: understanding women’s experiences of long-term imprisonment

Invisible women: understanding women’s experiences of long-term imprisonment This briefing highlights the far-reaching consequences of a lack of specialist, gender-specific, trauma informed provision for the the small minority of women serving very long determinate or indeterminate prison sentences. Most women serving long prison sentences will have extensive histories of trauma and are often victims as well as perpetrators. In a study of women serving life sentences, 60 per cent reported histories of sexual abuse, 80 per cent had experienced physical abuse and 54 per cent reported both sexual and physical abuse. Women lacking specialist support can feel isolated in their trauma; those serving long sentences are more exposed to repeat traumatisation. Prison Reform Trust

Doctor says healthcare regulator misled the public

Doctor says healthcare regulator misled the public A doctor has accused England's health and care regulator of "moral corruption".

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Shyam Kumar says the Care Quality Commission misled the public over patient safety.

Mr Kumar alleges he was unfairly dismissed from his role as a special adviser to the CQC because he acted as a whistleblower. BBC News

Government considering single leader for local NHS and care services

Government considering single leader for local NHS and care services A single person would be accountable for planning health and care services in each local area under plans being reviewed by government, Health Service Journal has reported.

Senior sources involved in the work confirmed to HSJ that the proposal could be included in the government’s planned integration white paper, which may be published before Christmas. Local Government Chronicle

MPs say NHS staff 'crisis' could undermine Covid recovery as they open probe into why people are quitting

MPs say NHS staff 'crisis' could undermine Covid recovery as they open probe into why people are quitting MPs have warned the “crisis” of NHS staff shortages will hold back recovery from Covid as they launched a probe into why so many people are leaving healthcare professions.

The Health and Social Care Committee of MPs has opened an inquiry into “how to end staff drain” among doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. iNews

Three in 10 Brits no longer self-isolate if they get Covid-like symptoms, official figures show

Three in 10 Brits no longer self-isolate if they get Covid-like symptoms, official figures show Three in 10 Britons who develop Covid symptoms do not self-isolate while they wait on their test result, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) — which surveyed 1,000 people in England earlier this month who had the virus — found 29 per cent did not stay at home when they started feelin ill. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Coronavirus and self-isolation after testing positive in England: 1 November to 6 November 2021 Office for National Statistics
• Daily Covid cases rise by 14% in a week to 43,676 but hospital admissions drop for EIGHTH day The Daily Mail
• New Botswana variant with 32 'horrific' mutations is the most evolved Covid strain EVER The Daily Mail
• Man 'obsessed' with Covid jailed over bomb scare which halted AstraZeneca vaccine factory The Daily Telegraph
• Here’s what the UK can learn from other countries’ responses to Covid-19 The Guardian
• Will there be a new UK lockdown before Christmas? The Independent

NHS patients could be moved around the country under plan to reduce waiting lists

NHS patients could be moved around the country under plan to reduce waiting lists Follow-up appointments are to be scrapped and patients moved around the country under radical plans to tackle the enormous NHS waiting list backlog, it was reported last night.

The Health Secretary Sajid Javid is understood to have ordered NHS health chiefs to come up with proposals to ease the backlog. The Daily Mail 

Mind the gap: an investigation into maternity training for frontline professionals across the UK 2020/21

Mind the gap: an investigation into maternity training for frontline professionals across the UK 2020/21 This report, compiled from data received from Freedom of Information requests submitted to NHS trusts, examines the on-going training actually delivered to maternity professionals. It once again shows there is not sufficient on-going training and that NHS trusts are delivering less training today – and are spending less on it – than they were in 2017/18. Baby Lifeline is urging the government to commit funding to address the issues that this report highlights, in particular to ensure the correct level of training is delivered and that the staffing is in place to allow for that training. Baby Lifeline

Gendered experiences of obesity: narrowing gender gaps in prevention and treatment

Gendered experiences of obesity: narrowing gender gaps in prevention and treatment This report explores gendered experiences of obesity in the UK , examining how obesity rates differ between men and women, the drivers of these trends and the extent to which policy aimed at reducing obesity rates needs to be gender specific. Social Market Foundation

The future of NHS human resources and organisational development

The future of NHS human resources and organisational development This report outlines the ten-year strategy for the human resources (HR) and organisational development (OD) services in the NHS. It is aimed at HR and OD directors, chief people officers, HR and OD practitioners, managers, leaders and anyone with an interest in HR and OD. NHS England

Independent report: Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS

Independent report: Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS This independent review from Laura Wade-Gery considers how to ensure a coherent approach to digital transformation in the NHS national bodies. Department of Health and Social Care

Progesterone recommended to prevent early miscarriage

Progesterone recommended to prevent early miscarriage Women who experience bleeding in early pregnancy and have had at least one miscarriage should be treated with the hormone progesterone.

The new guidance, from the health watchdog NICE, is based on research suggesting the treatment could lead to 8,450 more births each year in the UK.

The more miscarriages a woman had, the more effective progesterone was, the trial found. BBC News

Nurses' mental health: 'Most people in the NHS, they are sad'

Nurses' mental health: 'Most people in the NHS, they are sad' "NHS staff have run off adrenalin for the past year and that adrenalin is running out. We're all coming to the point where we're all just crashing and burning out."

Emily Moorhouse is one of thousands of NHS staff who have either left the profession or changed roles this year. BBC News

Covid jab wait for 12- to 15-year-olds in England could be up to five months

Covid jab wait for 12- to 15-year-olds in England could be up to five months Delays to the vaccination rollout mean some 12- to 15-year-olds may not get their Covid jab until February next year – 15 weeks after the government’s original target for offering the jab to all eligible teenagers, according to Labour.

Officials originally set October half-term as the target to invite those in the age group to receive the vaccine in schools after criticism that England was slow to approve it for children compared to other countries. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: Law reform calls for 'vital' care home visits BBC News
• Number of long Covid cases 'probably beyond current capacity' of NHS, says professor Channel 4 News
• Weekly COVID-19 cases among children rose to 141,000 - a nearly 14% increase from the week prior The Daily Mail
• Has third jab farce landed hundreds in intensive care? The Daily Mail
• Eleven vulnerable care home residents are injected with SALT WATER instead of Pfizer Covid vaccine The Daily Mail
• 700,000 Europeans will die from Covid by March, World Health Organization warns The Daily Mail
• Weekly Covid deaths pass 1,000 for first time since early March The Independent
• Ministers have ‘lost the message’ over Covid, scientists warn The Independent

NHS scheme to reduce hospital pressures 'stalled' over lack of beds and staff

NHS scheme to reduce hospital pressures 'stalled' over lack of beds and staff A flagship NHS scheme to reduce pressure on hospitals has “stalled” due to a lack of beds and staff shortages, The Independent can reveal.

Hospital wards designed to treat NHS patients within one day are instead being “inappropriately” used as “overflow” areas for busy A&Es, according to research by the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM).

Analysis: Treasury's dead hand over NHS policy is the biggest patient safety threat

Analysis: Treasury's dead hand over NHS policy is the biggest patient safety threat Patients are dying in the backs of ambulances or on trolleys in A&E while others languish in beds unable to be discharged due to the collapse in social care. Others waiting in pain are desperate to get a bed for much-needed surgery.

While there are many ingredients mixing together to create the current NHS crisis, a widespread shortage of nurses, doctors and other essential staff is one of the major contributory factors. The Independent

See also: 

• The Government has squandered the opportunity to achieve safe staffing in NHS and patient care will suffer BMA
• Inaction on workforce planning will hamper the NHS and social care's ability to recover The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the social care cap change vote The King's Fund
• Health and care bill: report stage NHS Confederation
• 'Widespread disappointment and disbelief' Royal College of Nursing
• RCP responds to report stage debate on amendment to strengthen workforce planning in the Health and Care Bill Royal College of Physicians 
• Real ‘care crisis’ is lack of council funding and staff, Jeremy Hunt warns ministers The Independent
• Boris Johnson’s controversial care plans face resistance in Lords The Independent
• Tory MPs vote down plea to ban private health firms sitting on NHS boards The Mirror
• Health and Care Bill 2021: new plans explained, how NHS will be affected, and what is the social care cap? National World

First human clinical trials for nasal vaccine to prevent Alzheimer's disease set to begin

First human clinical trials for nasal vaccine to prevent Alzheimer's disease set to begin A vaccine that could prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease is beginning its first human clinical trials.

Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, announced on Tuesday that it is starting a Phase I trial of a nasal spray that could prevent the devastating condition. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Brigham and Women's Hospital Launches Clinical Trial of Nasal Vaccine for Alzheimer's Disease Brigham and Women's Hospital

Midwives turn out in force in Northampton town centre to push message about health crisis

Midwives turn out in force in Northampton town centre to push message about health crisis Placard-waving Northamptonshire midwives braved the cold and turned out in force to highlight a growing crisis in maternity services.

Organisers of the March with Midwives in Northampton town centre on Sunday (November 21) say many are being driven out of the NHS by understaffing and fears they can’t deliver safe care to women in the current system. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Parents raise £184k for Kettering General Hospital bereavement suite

Parents raise £184k for Kettering General Hospital bereavement suite Parents and families in Northamptonshire who have lost babies have helped raise £184,000 for a new bereavement suite.

The Northamptonshire Health Charity has been fundraising for the facility at Kettering General Hospital but still needs more donations.

The Twinkling Stars Appeal is hoping to raise £1m. BBC Northampton 

Major reforms to NHS workforce planning and tech agenda

Major reforms to NHS workforce planning and tech agenda Recruitment, training and retention of NHS staff and digital transformation will be put at the heart of the NHS in England, under new reforms announced by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care today. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• HEE response to DHSC announcement of HEE and NHSE/I merger Health Education England
• Department of Health & Social Care announcement on NHS Tech Agenda NHS Digital

Nowhere else to turn: exploring high intensity use of accident and emergency services

Nowhere else to turn: exploring high intensity use of accident and emergency services People who frequently attend accident and emergency (A&E) a make up less than one per cent of the population, but account for a significant proportion of all A&E attendances, ambulance journeys and hospital admissions. It is estimated they cost the NHS at least £2.5bn per year. This report explores the profile and experiences of people who frequently attend A&E and considers what needs to be done to ensure that more people can be supported in the community, before they reach a crisis that leads to the door of the emergency department. It shows the clear link between high intensity use and wider inequalities. British Red Cross