Covid-19: Face masks required in more indoor venues in England

Covid-19: Face masks required in more indoor venues in England Face coverings are now compulsory in most indoor venues in England, under measures to tackle the Omicron variant.

The new rules require people to wear masks in locations including theatres, cinemas, places of worship, museums and indoor sport stadiums.

Further changes start next week under the government's move to so-called Plan B Covid restrictions. BBC News

See also:

• 'The unvaccinated ask for jabs, but by then it's too late' BBC News
• Omicron and boosters: Your questions answered BBC News
• Covid booster shots could reduce a fully vaccinated person's risk of death 90%, study finds The Daily Mail
• Two vaccine doses may NOT be enough to protect against Omicron coronavirus variant, says Pfizer The Daily Mail
• Booster drive chaos as over-40s say they're being TURNED AWAY at clinics The Daily Mail
• SAGE scientists warn Plan B WON'T solve Omicron crisis in hint 'Christmas lite' may be needed The Daily Mail
• In charts: Why ministers think we could hit a million omicron cases a day by Christmas The Daily Telegraph
• GPs offer Covid boosters to under-40s against NHS guidance The Guardian
• Stricter measures than plan B may be needed to rein in UK’s Omicron growth The Guardian
• Omicron: ‘Plan C’ measures could see table service in pubs and visitor limits in care homes The Independent

Almost 6 million people on waiting lists for NHS surgery in England

Almost 6 million people on waiting lists for NHS surgery in England A record number of almost 6 million people are waiting to have hospital treatment in England, the latest NHS monthly performance statistics show.

The number of patients on the waiting list for non-urgent hospital treatment, including surgery such as a hip or knee replacement or cataract operation, rose to 5,975,216 in October, the highest since records began in August 2007. The Guardian

See also: 

• Busiest November ever as new figures show pressures on NHS staff NHS England
• NHS performance summary: October - November 2021 Nuffield Trust
• Health Foundation highlights need for a credible and realistic strategy to bring NHS waiting lists down The Health Foundation
• NHS Tracker: How is the NHS in your area coping? BBC News
• Long Covid among staff adding to healthcare pressures, say NHS leaders The Independent

Bosses at West Suffolk hospital criticised over ‘intimidating’ hunt for whistleblower

Bosses at West Suffolk hospital criticised over ‘intimidating’ hunt for whistleblower Bosses at Matt Hancock’s local hospital have been severely criticised in an NHS report for their part in an “intimidating” bullying scandal exposed by the Guardian.

The long-delayed review into West Suffolk hospital in Bury St Edmunds was ordered in January 2020 after the Guardian revealed that senior clinicians were subjected to an unprecedented demand to provide fingerprint samples as part of a management search for a suspected whistleblower. The Guardian

See also: 

• West Suffolk Review NHS England
• West Suffolk Hospital hunt for whistleblower 'incendiary' says report BBC News

Warning of 'generational crisis' of inactivity as teenage boys hit hardest by lockdown

Warning of 'generational crisis' of inactivity as teenage boys hit hardest by lockdown Secondary school age boys became less active than girls for the first time during the Covid pandemic, according to a major new report which lays bare a “generational crisis” of children’s inactivity. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Active Lives: Children and Young People Survey Academic year 2020-21 (report) Sport England
• Coronavirus challenges highlight importance of physical activity and sport for children Sport England

Covid: Anniversary of first Northamptonshire vaccination

Covid: Anniversary of first Northamptonshire vaccination More than half a million people have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine in Northamptonshire one year on from the first jab being administered.

The county's roll-out of the vaccine started at Northampton Hospital on 8 December 2020. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Tory MPs threaten Plan B revolt as PM still under fire over Downing Street party Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Wellingborough MP Peter Bone "absolutely believes" Boris Johnson is telling the truth over No10 Christmas party Northamptonshire Telegraph
• 1.2m coronavirus vaccine doses given in past year in Northamptonshire Northants Live

New online cancer information hub launched to help Northamptonshire patients cope with diagnosis

New online cancer information hub launched to help Northamptonshire patients cope with diagnosis A new online cancer information hub has been launched to help Northamptonshire patients to understand and cope with diagnosis and treatments. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group Northants Cancer Information Hub YouTube

Northampton Hospital: New cancer treatment reduces need for surgery

Northampton Hospital: New cancer treatment reduces need for surgery A new cancer treatment which removes the need for surgery or traditional radiotherapy "could be a norm for the future," according to a hospital clinician.

Northampton Hospital is one of 10 places across England to trial Skin Brachytherapy. BBC Northampton

Children's services back in spotlight after reviews into deaths of two infants in Northamptonshire

Children's services back in spotlight after reviews into deaths of two infants in Northamptonshire Heads of children's services in Northamptonshire admit there is still work to be done following publication of two independent reviews into deaths of infants in the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Enabling service transformation in practice: reflections on the Wade-Gery review

Enabling service transformation in practice: reflections on the Wade-Gery review The innovations we’ve seen in NHS services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – such as more digital consultations, remote monitoring, and using data to prioritise vaccine rollout – have given us a glimpse of the potential of technology and data to revolutionise health care delivery. The Health Foundation

NHS England and tackling inequalities

NHS England and tackling inequalities The lightbulb moment of the Covid-19 experience to date – that inequalities in health and their causes run deep through our society and through how people access, experience and receive care from the NHS – must not be lost. The King's Fund 

Mental health services for children and young people risk backward slide

Mental health services for children and young people risk backward slide The Health and Social Care Committee calls for urgent action to prevent mental health services slipping backwards as a result of additional demand created by the pandemic and the scale of unmet need prior to it.

MPs found that despite progress in numbers of young people receiving treatment, it was unacceptable that more than half with a diagnosable condition pre-pandemic do not receive the mental health support they need.

See also: 

• Children and young people’s mental health (report) Health and Social Care Committee
• Children's mental health: 'The type of self-harm is the worst we have seen' BBC News
• Children facing long waits and ‘inappropriate care’ in mental health services, report says The Independent

RCEM winter flow project: analysis of the data so far

RCEM winter flow project: analysis of the data so far Winter flow is an annual project run by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine since 2015. The project collects a range of data to explore the factors that affect emergency departments and patient ‘flow’. This report reveals that in November 2021 6,726 elective care operations were cancelled and in October 2021 6,335 elective care operations were cancelled. Royal College of Emergency Medicine 

Health and Care Bill

Health and Care Bill The Health and Care Bill is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 7 December 2021. This briefing focuses on how the bill changed as it went through the House of Commons, and remaining areas that opposition parties and other stakeholders would like to see addressed in the House of Lords. House of Lords Library 

Statement to Parliament: Health Secretary's oral statement to Parliament on COVID-19

Statement to Parliament: Health Secretary's oral statement to Parliament on COVID-19 Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid's oral statement to Parliament on COVID-19 and Plan B made on 8 December. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• UK's most vulnerable people to receive life-saving COVID-19 treatments in the community Department of Health and Social Care
• People 40 and over to get their lifesaving booster jab three months on from second dose NHS England
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments UK Health Security Agency
• COVID-19 variants identified in the UK UK Health Security Agency

Covid-19: Javid defends Plan B rule changes amid No 10 party row

Covid-19: Javid defends Plan B rule changes amid No 10 party row New Covid rules in England will buy time against the Omicron variant amid a "credible risk" of a crisis in the NHS, Health Secretary Sajid Javid says.

The restrictions include masks in most public places, Covid passes for some venues and work from home guidance.

Mr Javid denied the government had lost credibility by breaking rules over parties at Downing Street. BBC News 

See also:

• Covid: England braces for Plan B rule changes amid Omicron fears BBC News
• Covid: Hospital admissions could reach 1,000 a day - scientific advisers BBC News
• Covid: Pfizer says booster shot promising against Omicron BBC News
• Covid: Bereaved family angry at No 10 lockdown party BBC News
• Covid risk remains higher for some ethnic groups BBC News
• Sajid Javid warns Britain could breach 1MILLION cases of Omicron by the end of December The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Experts warn Plan B may not be enough to contain Omicron The Daily Mail
• Neil Ferguson warns full lockdown might be needed to stop Omicron overwhelming NHS The Daily Mail
• Covid Plan B: How new measures will affect Christmas The Daily Telegraph
• Talk of a No 10 Christmas party is an insult to the thousands who have died of Covid | Rachel Clarke The Guardian
• Covid PCR test market a ‘rip-off jungle’, says ex-chair of competition regulator The Guardian
• Boris Johnson’s plan B arrives – but how much is it now undermined? The Guardian

New Zealand to ban cigarettes for future generations

New Zealand to ban cigarettes for future generations New Zealand will ban the sale of tobacco to its next generation, in a bid to eventually phase out smoking.

Anyone born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in their lifetime, under a law expected to be enacted next year.

"We want to make sure young people never start smoking," Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verall said. BBC News

NHS report reveals decade of failings in care of vulnerable man

NHS report reveals decade of failings in care of vulnerable man A vulnerable man detained for 10 years was failed by a system meant to care for him, an independent NHS investigation has found.

Clive Treacey, a man who lived his life in the care of NHS and social care authorities, experienced an “unacceptably poor quality of life”, and was not kept safe from harm before his death at just 47. The Independent

See also: 

• Clive Treacey: Independent Review NHS England
• ‘Help me dad’: Last words of a vulnerable man failed by all systems The Independent

Dogs prevent more than 100,000 suicides in people with autism in the UK, study claims

Dogs prevent more than 100,000 suicides in people with autism in the UK, study claims Pet dogs have prevented more than 100,000 people with autism from taking their own life, according to a new study. 

Scientists from the University of Lincoln studied the relationship between people who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their pet dog. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• Understanding the impact of dog ownership on autistic adults: implications for mental health and suicide prevention (open access) Nature Scientific Reports

Brackley: Thirteen cases of Omicron identified in town

Brackley: Thirteen cases of Omicron identified in town Thirteen cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant have been found in a Northamptonshire town.

As well as the confirmed instances, "a number of highly probable cases" have been identified in the Brackley area. BBC Northampton

See also: 

• Extra 7 million people able to book Covid jabs as booking system extended Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire health professionals missed danger signs before death of six-month old baby boy, official report finds

Northamptonshire health professionals missed danger signs before death of six-month old baby boy, official report finds An independent review says Northamptonshire health professionals failed to spot danger signs in weeks leading up to the death of a six-month old baby boy in April last year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Child Az - Child Safeguarding Practice Review Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

Restraint, segregation and seclusion review: progress report

Restraint, segregation and seclusion review: progress report This short report comments on the progress following publication of Out of sight – who cares? in October 2020, which looked at the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for people with a mental health condition, a learning disability or autism. This report highlights the main areas where further work is still needed. Care Quality Commission 

Lockdown on loneliness: creating connection for people with a learning disability

Lockdown on loneliness: creating connection for people with a learning disability According to this report, experiences of loneliness were not limited to Covid lockdown for people with learning disabilities. Over a third (36 per cent) of people with a learning disability surveyed after lockdown said they felt lonely nearly always or all the time, while one in three people (37 per cent) also said that they hardly ever or never go out to socialise – suggesting that their experiences of loneliness were not a consequence of restrictions introduced due to the pandemic. The report highlights unmet support needs as a key driver of loneliness which prevents many people with a learning disability from taking opportunities to socialise. Hft

Assessing the global burden of post-Covid-19 conditions

Assessing the global burden of post-Covid-19 conditions As the number of reported cases of Covid-19 exceeds 250 million globally and deaths exceed 5 million, there is growing awareness and concern about those who suffer long-term conditions that appear to be associated with the virus. These long-term conditions are likely to impose a large burden on the health care system. The objective of the research reflected in this report is to quantify the magnitude of patients with post-Covid-19 conditions based on analysis of medical open claims data and a review of the growing body of literature globally. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science 

UK marks one year since deploying world's first COVID-19 vaccine

UK marks one year since deploying world's first COVID-19 vaccine The UK administered the first COVID-19 vaccine in the world, outside of clinical trials, one year ago today as the Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid urges people to get their booster jab as soon as they are eligible. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on the COVID-19 pandemic Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Vaccines should work against Omicron variant, WHO says

Covid: Vaccines should work against Omicron variant, WHO says Existing vaccines should still protect people who contract the Omicron variant from severe Covid cases, a World Health Organization (WHO) official says.

It comes as the first lab tests of the new variant in South Africa suggest it can partially evade the Pfizer jab.

Researchers say there was a "very large drop" in how well the vaccine's antibodies neutralised the new strain. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Early signs Omicron spreads more easily, says No 10 BBC News
• Covid booster jab booking system opens to over-40s in England BBC News
• Downing Street party: No 10 staff joked about party amid lockdown restrictions BBC News
• Nearly 70 Spanish medics Covid positive after Christmas party BBC News
• UK's Covid cases spike again amid growing Omicron wave The Daily Mail
• Boris insists booster roll-out going FASTER than planned but data shows barely any improvement The Daily Mail
• Wearing a mask is better than social distancing in EVERY scenario, study finds The Daily Mail
• Omicron significantly reduces Covid antibodies generated by Pfizer vaccine, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• UK races to deliver booster jabs before Omicron takes hold The Guardian
• NHS recruits more staff to ‘ramp up’ Covid booster rollout The Guardian
• It’s not too late for the British government to develop an effective Covid strategy | Gabriel Scally The Guardian
• UK could reach 90,000 infections a day by Christmas, experts warn The Independent

Viagra may be useful against Alzheimer's dementia

Viagra may be useful against Alzheimer's dementia The impotence pill Viagra may be a useful treatment against Alzheimer's disease, say US researchers who have been studying its effects in the brain.

Tests in cells suggest the drug targets some of the proteins that accumulate in this type of dementia.

The Cleveland team also analysed a database of 7m patients and found men who were on the drug had a lower risk of Alzheimer's. BBC News

See also: 

• Endophenotype-based in silico network medicine discovery combined with insurance record data mining identifies sildenafil as a candidate drug for Alzheimer’s disease (abstract) Nature Aging

If you love the NHS, the new health and social care bill should set off alarm bells

If you love the NHS, the new health and social care bill should set off alarm bells | Allyson Pollock and Peter Roderick Ten years ago, Andrew Lansley’s health and social care bill to reorganise the NHS in England faced enormous opposition. The current health and care bill, which has its second reading in the House of Lords today, has received far less attention. But it is no less significant. The new bill will continue the dismantling of the NHS, this time by adopting more features from the US health system. For anyone who cares about the NHS, this should set off alarm bells. The Guardian 

Alcohol-related deaths in Britain hit highest EVER level: Experts say lockdowns helped fuel 20% rise

Alcohol-related deaths in Britain hit highest EVER level: Experts say lockdowns helped fuel 20% rise Alcohol-related deaths in the UK have risen to the highest level in nearly two decades, official figures show as experts warn Covid lockdowns fuelled dangerous drinking habits. 

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows alcohol-related deaths across Britain spiked a fifth in a year to nearly 9,000, marking the highest annual increase since records began in 2001. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2020 Office for National Statistics

Northampton within first 10 hospitals in UK to introduce new skin cancer treatment as patients across the county to benefit from faster recovery

Northampton within first 10 hospitals in UK to introduce new skin cancer treatment as patients across the county to benefit from faster recovery Specialists at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) have launched a new treatment for patients with common skin cancers to aid faster recovery without surgery.

Skin Brachytherapy is a highly targeted radiotherapy technique used to treat certain types of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hospitals on alert as first Omicron cases are confirmed in Northamptonshire

Hospitals on alert as first Omicron cases are confirmed in Northamptonshire Bosses at the two main Northamptonshire hospitals have no plans to extend restrictions as the first Omicron cases are confirmed, despite a new ban on visitors at a neighbouring NHS trust. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Omicron: Six cases discovered in Brackley BBC Northampton
• Extra testers rolling into south Northamptonshire as more cases of Covid Omicron variant are confirmed Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• It's 643 days since Northamptonshire's first Covid case and people are STILL going to work and school with symptoms Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• UK Omicron Covid cases ‘doubling every three days’ top scientists say Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• First Covid-19 Omicron variant case is confirmed in North Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

What has happened to non-COVID mortality during the pandemic?

What has happened to non-COVID mortality during the pandemic? In England, deaths from causes other than COVID-19 have been lower than usual for 80% of the pandemic. In January to September 2021, this was equivalent to about 34,000 (or 9%) fewer deaths than we would expect, based on historical mortality patterns. This analysis explores some of the questions arising from this reduction. The Health Foundation

Community mental health survey 2021

Community mental health survey 2021 People were eligible to take part in the survey if they had at least one contact with services between September and November 2020, with another contact either before, during or after this period. In addition, some questions ask participants to reflect on their care over the last 12 months. Therefore, results of this survey reflect experiences of care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. This report shows that people are consistently reporting poor experiences of NHS community mental health services, with few positive results. Many people reported that their mental health had deteriorated as a result of changes made to their care and treatment due to the pandemic. Care Quality Commission

Supporting named leads for health inequalities on NHS boards

Supporting named leads for health inequalities on NHS boards This report, published by the NHS Race & Health Observatory in collaboration with The King’s Fund, sets out recommendations to help ensure senior NHS officials responsible for improving health inequalities are able to make a difference. It outlines practical recommendations and next steps to ensure named leads on boards are equipped to make a difference on health inequality outcomes and held to account with system partners on progress. NHS Race & Health Observatory

New law to prevent use of force in mental health settings

New law to prevent use of force in mental health settings Patients in mental health settings will be better protected from inappropriate use of force following the commencement of landmark regulations and publication of guidance of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 today (Tuesday 7 December). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statutory guidance: Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 Department of Health and Social Care
• Consultation outcome: Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 statutory guidance Department of Health and Social Care 

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