Thursday, 23 December 2021

Omicron wave appears milder, but concern remains

Omicron wave appears milder, but concern remains The wave of Omicron appears to be milder according to preliminary studies published in the UK and South Africa.

Early evidence suggests fewer people are needing hospital treatment than with other variants - with estimates ranging from a 30% to a 70% reduction.

But the concern remains that even if Omicron is milder, the sheer number of cases could overwhelm hospitals. BBC News

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NHS England to offer life-changing drug to children with peanut allergy

NHS England to offer life-changing drug to children with peanut allergy Children in the UK will be the first in Europe to receive a life-changing treatment for peanut allergies, after NHS England secured a deal for a drug that decreases the severity of symptoms including anaphylaxis.

The oral treatment, Palforzia, will be available to up to 600 children aged four to 17 the first year and 2,000 the following year. The Guardian 

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GPs must not send patients to pharmacy without proper referral, says NHS England

GPs must not send patients to pharmacy without proper referral, says NHS England GPs must not ‘informally’ send patients to community pharmacies while prioritising Covid booster vaccinations, NHS England has said.

Instead, they must make a referral to the community pharmacist consultation service (CPCS) for the patient’s minor illness symptoms making them eligible for the service ‘via the locally agreed electronic referral route’. Pulse 
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Wednesday, 22 December 2021

Extra Covid tests required from today for visitors to Northampton General Hospital childrens' wards

Extra Covid tests required from today for visitors to Northampton General Hospital childrens' wards People visiting Northampton General Hospital children's wards face extra Covid testing from today.

Parents or guardians need to take regular PCR tests and will not be able to visit kids together. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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'It wasn't the death she deserved': Northampton man backs assisted dying law after terminally ill mum takes her own life

'It wasn't the death she deserved': Northampton man backs assisted dying law after terminally ill mum takes her own life Adam Wellesley and his sister were questioned by police after their terminally ill mum took her life and now he is backing the Dignity in Death campaign as momentum builds up across the UK and Ireland. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

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Over two thirds of eligible adults boosted ahead of Christmas

Over two thirds of eligible adults boosted ahead of Christmas More than two thirds of people aged 18 and over and who are eligible, have now received their top up protection against COVID-19 as the NHS booster campaign continues to protect the nation against the virus.

In total, 25,130,453 people who are three months on from their second dose have already been boosted in England, with the online service opening to eligible adults last Wednesday. NHS England

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Covid: Self-isolation cut from 10 days to seven with negative test

Covid: Self-isolation cut from 10 days to seven with negative test People infected with Covid in England can stop self-isolating up to three days early if they test negative twice, it has been announced.

They will now be able to end quarantine after seven days instead of 10 by providing negative lateral flow results on day six and day seven.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it would minimise disruption caused by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. BBC News

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Councils call for billions of pounds to be diverted from NHS to social care

Councils call for billions of pounds to be diverted from NHS to social care Town halls in England are calling for billions of pounds a year earmarked for the NHS to be diverted to social care amid warnings of severe care worker shortages and hundreds of thousands of people not getting the help they need.

The cross-party Local Government Association wants a rethink of the government policy announced in October, which is to reserve 85% of receipts from the new 1.25% health and social care tax for the health service. The Guardian 
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Just 10% of patients take up 40% of GP appointments and visit their practice 60 TIMES a year

Just 10% of patients take up 40% of GP appointments and visit their practice 60 TIMES a year Family doctors are being overwhelmed by a small group of ‘frequent attenders’ who have five times more appointments than other patients, research shows.

A study of 1.7 billion GP consultations over the past two decades UK found 40 per cent of all appointments are taken up by just ten per cent of patients.

These ‘regulars’ attend their GP surgery around 60 times a year, five times more than other patients. The Daily Mail

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Top 10 NHS IT stories of 2021

Top 10 NHS IT stories of 2021 Technology has been central to the National Health Service response to the Covid-19 pandemic – we look back at the stories that made the headlines on 2021. Computer Weekly

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Tuesday, 21 December 2021

Tougher Covid rules a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’, NHS boss says

Tougher Covid rules a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’, NHS boss says Tougher Covid restrictions in the wake of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant have been described as ‘inevitable’ by a key NHS organisation.

The NHS Confederation, a membership body for healthcare providers and staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said it was a question of “when, rather than if” new rules would be introduced. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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Kettering General Hospital: Bereaved family create journal for patient families

Kettering General Hospital: Bereaved family create journal for patient families The family of a child who died as a result of neglect in hospital have created a journal to help other parents. BBC Northampton
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That was the year that was: health policy in 2021

That was the year that was: health policy in 2021 In another year shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, we explore some key health policy developments and look ahead to what 2022 might have in store. 

With Omicron dominating the headlines and a public inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 on the horizon, has government learned – and acted on – the lessons from the start of the pandemic?  

As the NHS faces the huge task of COVID-19 recovery, how will the debate about NHS performance and funding play out? Will the Health and Care Bill going through parliament be ready to come into effect next April, and what might it mean for the health system? Podcast from The Health Foundation

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Professional nurse advocate A-EQUIP model: a model of clinical supervision for nurses

Professional nurse advocate A-EQUIP model: a model of clinical supervision for nurses This document describes the professional nurse advocate (PNA) role and the A-EQUIP (Advocating and Educating for QUality ImProvement) model of professional nursing leadership and clinical supervision, and provides guidance on their implementation, including key actions for each relevant group. NHS England
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    Research: COVID-19: Omicron daily overview

    Research: COVID-19: Omicron daily overview An overview and summary of case data for Omicron focusing on confirmed and SGTF cases in the UK. UK Health Security Agency
     
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    WHO urges cancelling some holiday events over Omicron fears

    WHO urges cancelling some holiday events over Omicron fears The World Health Organization has urged people to cancel some of their holiday plans to protect public health, as the Omicron variant spreads globally.

    "An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," said WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that "difficult decisions" must be made.

    A number of countries have acted to try to halt the spread of the variant, including imposing travel curbs. BBC News

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    Tony Hickmott: Autistic man was 'loneliest man in the hospital'

    Tony Hickmott: Autistic man was 'loneliest man in the hospital' A whistle-blower in the case of an autistic man who has been detained in hospital since 2001 says he feels complicit in his "neglect and abuse".

    A BBC investigation found 100 people with learning disabilities have been held in specialist hospitals for 20 years or more, including Tony Hickmott.

    His parents are fighting to get him rehoused in the community. BBC News
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    NHS drug pledge broken for asthma sufferers and smokers, report reveals

    NHS drug pledge broken for asthma sufferers and smokers, report reveals A promise to ensure that people with severe asthma and smokers who want to quit can get the drugs they need has been broken by ministers and the NHS, a health service report reveals.

    Health charities criticised the persistent lack of access to vital medications for patients in England as very worrying and warned that it could damage the health of those affected. The Guardian
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    Monday, 20 December 2021

    Rush for Covid-19 boosters as Northampton and Kettering NHS hospitals brace for staff shortages amid rise in Omicron cases

    Rush for Covid-19 boosters as Northampton and Kettering NHS hospitals brace for staff shortages amid rise in Omicron cases A rush for booster jabs in the run-up to Christmas has been welcomed by health chiefs as Northamptonshire hospitals deal with more Covid-19 patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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    University students set up toy donation drive to cheer up children in hospital in Northampton for Christmas

    University students set up toy donation drive to cheer up children in hospital in Northampton for Christmas A toy donation drive organised by kind-hearted university students has put smiles on the faces of children who will spend Christmas in hospital in Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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    Going it alone: health and Brexit in the UK

    Going it alone: health and Brexit in the UK After nearly a year out of the Single Market and Customs Union, Brexit is still fuelling uncertainty in many aspects of health and social care. This report looks at six key areas that are being impacted, what has already happened and what NHS, government and business figures expect for the future. Nuffield Trust

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    Four lessons the pandemic has taught us about health data

    Four lessons the pandemic has taught us about health data Data has played a critical role during the pandemic. It’s helped to assess the impact of new treatments, track trends in the quality of care, and identify the needs of the most vulnerable. The government publishing data about the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths has also been an important way for the media and public to track the impact of COVID-19.

    As the UK slowly emerges from the pandemic, data can play a similarly significant role. The Health Foundation

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    NHS delivers ‘super Saturday’ as COVID booster jabs soar

    NHS delivers ‘super Saturday’ as COVID booster jabs soar The NHS delivered another record-breaking day for booster jabs with more than 830,000 reported on ‘super Saturday’ as the NHS booster programme continues at pace.

    A total of 830,403 boosters were delivered and 906,656 vaccinations altogether, including more first and second vaccinations – both records for the programme. NHS England

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    Covid: Vulnerable NHS patients to be offered new drug

    Covid: Vulnerable NHS patients to be offered new drug A new Covid drug designed to reduce the risk of vulnerable patients needing hospital treatment will be available on the NHS from today.

    Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody given as a transfusion to transplant recipients, cancer patients and other high-risk groups.

    If given quickly after symptoms develop it is should help prevent people from falling seriously ill with the disease. BBC News

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    Alzheimer's drug aducanumab not approved for use in EU

    Alzheimer's drug aducanumab not approved for use in EU The European Medicines Agency has said no to approving a new drug for Alzheimer's disease in the EU.

    Aducanumab does not appear to be effective at treating adults with early-stage symptoms, the EMA said.

    Alzheimer's charities say they are disappointed by the decision because thousands of people are left with no treatment options. BBC News 
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    A dangerous lie is stalking the NHS: that it is no longer fit for purpose

    A dangerous lie is stalking the NHS: that it is no longer fit for purpose | Sonia Sodha Painting the health service as inefficient ignores a decade of chronic underfunding.

    Each time I’ve gone for a Covid jab, I’ve walked out with a warm glow. It wasn’t just relief to have the protection, or awe at the scientific feats that were pulled off to get a vaccine in my arm, but a sense of national pride in the NHS, an institution that is collectively ours, there for us in good times and bad. Just seeing the NHS’s distinctive blue-and-white logo is enough to make my heart swell a little. The Guardian
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    Friday, 17 December 2021

    Omicron could overwhelm NHS in Northamptonshire, says health boss

    Omicron could overwhelm NHS in Northamptonshire, says health boss The rise of the Omicron variant could tip Northamptonshire's health services "into a place where the NHS does become overwhelmed," according to an NHS boss.

    There are currently 164 confirmed Omicron cases across the county.

    Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group chief executive Toby Sanders said the situation was "very, very critical". BBC Northamptonshire

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    Making sense of population health: a clinician's perspective

    Making sense of population health: a clinician's perspective ‘What has population health got to do with me, an eye surgeon?’ 

    I asked myself this after a long day working in the extra corneal clinic set up on a Saturday to cope with the backlog of patients created during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Other clinicians may be pondering the same question, feeling uncertain about their role in and relevance to population health (a whole-systems approach that aims to improve health and care for populations). The King's Fund 
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    The global use of medicines 2022: outlook to 2026

    The global use of medicines 2022: outlook to 2026 The largest driver of medicine spending through the next five years is expected to be global Covid-19 vaccinations. More widely, global spending on medicines continues to be driven by innovation and offset by losses of exclusivity and the lower costs of generics and biosimilars. This report quantifies the impact of these dynamics and examine the spending and usage of medicines in 2021 and the outlook to 2026, globally and for specific therapy areas and countries. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science 
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      Policy paper: Government response to the independent inquiry report into the issues raised by former surgeon Ian Paterson

      Policy paper: Government response to the independent inquiry report into the issues raised by former surgeon Ian Paterson The report of the independent inquiry into the issues raised by Paterson was published on 4 February 2020.

      This publication sets out the government’s response to the 15 recommendations made in the inquiry report. Department of Health and Social Care 
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      25m boosters in UK as public urged to Get Boosted Now

      25m boosters in UK as public urged to Get Boosted Now 25 million people in the UK have had their booster vaccine or third dose as everyone eligible is urged to keep coming forward for the vital jab. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Covid: Cases hit new record as booster drive continues

      Covid: Cases hit new record as booster drive continues A record number of daily coronavirus cases have been reported across the UK for the second day running, with 88,376 infections confirmed on Thursday.

      England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said the Omicron variant could rise "incredibly fast", but its peak subside quickly due to boosters. BBC News

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      NHS hospitals in England 94% full before start of Omicron surge

      NHS hospitals in England 94% full before start of Omicron surge Four in five critical care beds are full and one in four ambulance handovers are taking more than 30 minutes.

      Hospitals in England are already 94% full, with four out of five critical care beds occupied, even before the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has started to cause a big influx of patients. The Guardian

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      Omicron spread ‘could see 100,000 operations cancelled in England this winter’

      Omicron spread ‘could see 100,000 operations cancelled in England this winter’ A new study suggests more than 100,000 elective operations could be cancelled in England over the coming months, as a result of the current Omicron wave and the anticipated hospital admissions it could cause. The Independent

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      Thursday, 16 December 2021

      Public warned over 'serious threat' of Omicron as UK records highest ever daily cases

      Public warned over 'serious threat' of Omicron as UK records highest ever daily cases The British public have been warned to not believe that Omicron is a milder form of Covid-19, with a warning issued that the strain poses a “serious threat” to the country. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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      Future plans for Cransley Hospice to be relocated within north Northamptonshire a step closer

      Future plans for Cransley Hospice to be relocated within north Northamptonshire a step closer Efforts to keep a Kettering hospice in the north of the county to care for provide terminally-ill patients close to their homes have moved a step closer after a meeting with health chiefs. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

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      The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2021

      The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2021 This is an annual report on the realities and challenges faced by medical professionals in the UK’s health care systems. This year’s report looks at how the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the recovery have affected doctors’ work and training. It also highlights learnings that the UK health services can use to support doctors and patients. General Medical Council

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        Integrating health and social care: a comparison of policy and progress across the four countries of the UK

        Integrating health and social care: a comparison of policy and progress across the four countries of the UK The integration of health and social care has been a long-standing policy priority in each country of the UK. However, there is limited evidence these policies are delivering the results expected of them. This report looks at the impact of integration across the four countries and compares the policies and approaches each one has trialled to deliver their goals. Nuffield Trust

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        Our ageing population: How ageing affects health and care need in England

        Our ageing population: How ageing affects health and care need in England England’s population is ageing. In the next 25 years, the number of people older than 85 will double to 2.6 million. An ageing population might lead to the presumption that there will be an increased need for health and social care services. But the reality is more complicated. The Health Foundation 

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        A year like no other: the eighth SSNAP annual report

        A year like no other: the eighth SSNAP annual report Based on data from April 2020 to March 2021 (during the Covid-19 pandemic), the report aims to identify which aspects of stroke care need to be improved and how these beneficial changes can enhance outcomes for patients and families during this challenging period. Overall, the report found that, even during the Covid-19 pandemic year, many teams were still able to improve the quality of care through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. However, it also states there is an ongoing need to ensure that such improvements are sustained over the longer term, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme

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          Research: COVID-19: Omicron daily overview

          Research: COVID-19: Omicron daily overview An overview and summary of case data for Omicron focusing on confirmed and SGTF cases in the UK. UK Health Security Agency

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          Covid: UK reports highest daily cases since the pandemic began

          Covid: UK reports highest daily cases since the pandemic began The UK has recorded the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 78,610 reported on Wednesday.

          The previous record was 68,053 on 8 January - when the UK was in lockdown.

          Speaking at a news conference, England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty warned that records will be broken a lot in the next few weeks. BBC News

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          Peterborough City Hospital doctor accused of hastening patient deaths

          Peterborough City Hospital doctor accused of hastening patient deaths A consultant anaesthetist has been accused of "hastening" the deaths of two patients on end-of-life care, a misconduct panel heard.

          Dr Andrew Gregg, who worked at Peterborough City Hospital, denies that his actions, related to drug amounts, hastened their deaths.

          He was investigated by police but prosecutors decided against action. BBC News 
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          NHS chief urges tens of thousands of 'missing' cancer patients to come forward and seek help

          NHS chief urges tens of thousands of 'missing' cancer patients to come forward and seek help Tens of thousands of cancer patients are “missing” in England according to the head of the NHS who urged anyone with symptoms to come forward and seek help.

          Amanda Pritchard said 36,000 fewer people have been diagnosed with cancer than medics would expect to see with prostate, breast and lung cancers making up most of the absent cases. iNews 
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          Wednesday, 15 December 2021

          South Northants: Omicron hotspot has highest case rate in England

          South Northants: Omicron hotspot has highest case rate in England A hotspot for the Omicron variant also has the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in England, data shows.

          In the week to 9 December, South Northamptonshire had 891 cases per 100,000 people, a 9% week-on-week rise.

          According to figures from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the area also has the highest rate of the Omicron variant in the country. BBC Northampton

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          NHS encourages families to discuss organ donation wishes this Christmas as 65 people in Northamptonshire wait for transplant

          NHS encourages families to discuss organ donation wishes this Christmas as 65 people in Northamptonshire wait for transplant As Christmas approaches, the NHS is encouraging families to talk about organ donation wishes as 65 people wait for a transplant in Northamptonshire.

          NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is urging people to take a moment during the festivities to talk about their organ donation decision and to leave their family members certain of what they want to happen. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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          Are young children healthier than they were two decades ago? The changing face of early childhood in the UK

          Are young children healthier than they were two decades ago? The changing face of early childhood in the UK This report explores the significant developments in young children’s health over the last 20 years, focusing on seven fundamental indicators. While the review identifies improvements across these indicators, progress has recently stalled—and in some cases the situation has deteriorated. However, we conclude with evidence of policies that work and demonstrate the potential to reduce inequalities and improve the life chances of many young children. Nuffield Foundation
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            The Health and Social Care Committee’s Expert Panel : evaluation of the government’s progress against its policy commitments in the area of mental health services in England

            The Health and Social Care Committee’s Expert Panel : evaluation of the government’s progress against its policy commitments in the area of mental health services in England This report evaluates government progress to deliver commitments on a wider range of mental health services in England. Its overall rating against progress on nine commitments in four policy areas is ‘requires improvement’. The areas evaluated are: workforce; children and young people’s mental health; adult common mental illness; and adult severe mental illness. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee
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              An independent appraisal of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard

              An independent appraisal of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard The NHS seeks to monitor and control diversity and equality through a programme known as the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) – it is based on a series of statistical indicators pertaining to outcomes between white and non-white minority groups. However this paper argues that closer inspection of those indicators reveals ‘they do not withstand methodological scrutiny’. Civitas
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                Booster bookings surge as NHS accelerates COVID-19 vaccine campaign

                Booster bookings surge as NHS accelerates COVID-19 vaccine campaign More than 650,000 booster bookings were made yesterday (Monday) as the NHS kickstarted the expansion of its world-leading COVID-19 vaccination programme.

                Yesterday was the second highest day for booster bookings as the online service opened to all eligible people aged 30 and above.

                A total of 704,148 vaccine appointments were made, including 655,170 for boosters. NHS England

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                Covid pass starts in England despite biggest rebellion of Johnson era

                Covid pass starts in England despite biggest rebellion of Johnson era Adults in England must now show a Covid pass to enter nightclubs, big sports matches and other large events - despite nearly 100 Conservative MPs voting against the government's plans.

                The new rules - which kick in today - require proof of double-vaccination, or a recent negative test, to enter certain venues.

                MPs approved the measure in Tuesday's vote on England's new Covid rules. BBC News

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                GPs in dark over plans to drop care warn move could 'swamp NHS'

                GPs in dark over plans to drop care warn move could 'swamp NHS' GPs and hospital leaders have been left hanging over plans to drop “non-urgent” care, and warn there’s no way to safely stem demand without impacting patients health or “swamping” the NHS further. The Independent
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                NHS in crisis mode as it orders hospitals to empty 'as many patients as possible'

                NHS in crisis mode as it orders hospitals to empty 'as many patients as possible' Care bosses have warned homes will not have enough staff to deal with NHS orders for hospitals to discharge as many patients as 'soon as practically possible' to handle the predicted Omicron surge.

                In a letter to regional bosses published late last night, NHS England ruled all patients occupying hospital beds who don't 'need' one be sent to care homes, hospices and hotels if it is 'safe' to do so. The Daily Mail
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                Tuesday, 14 December 2021

                A&E trips to KGH one-third higher than 2020 and adding to pressure on already-stretched NHS

                A&E trips to KGH one-third higher than 2020 and adding to pressure on already-stretched NHS Fewer patients went to A&E at Kettering General Hospital in November – but numbers were still up by more than one-third on the same period in 2020.

                NHS England figures showed 8,612 patients visited the accident and emergency department last month. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

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                Corby GP practice's abusive patients impacting staff's mental health

                Corby GP practice's abusive patients impacting staff's mental health The largest GP practice in Corby has pleaded with frustrated patients to stop abusing their hard-working staff who are 'doing their very best'.

                Lakeside Healthcare owns the Lakeside super-practice in Cottingham Road as well as Forest Gate Surgery in Corby, Brigstock Surgery, Headlands Surgery in Kettering and Oundle Medical Practice. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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                Challenges in implementing digital change

                Challenges in implementing digital change Digital change, on which government estimates it spends around £20 billion each year, offers a real opportunity for the government to transform its ways of working and how it provides services to citizens. However, in this report  the PAC is concerned by the number of complex, large-scale digital programmes they continue to see fail and the impact this has on important government services and taxpayers’ money. For example, failures in NHS England’s efforts to transform primary care services potentially put patients at risk of serious harm. Public Accounts Committee
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                  Framework to support inter-hospital transfer of critical care patients

                  Framework to support inter-hospital transfer of critical care patients This framework document sets out principles to which units and systems should adhere, to maintain equitable and safe access to critical care for both emergency and urgent planned care patients. NHS England 
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                    NHS sets out next steps to accelerate COVID-19 booster rollout

                    NHS sets out next steps to accelerate COVID-19 booster rollout The NHS has today outlined detailed plans to accelerate the COVID-19 booster programme with more pop-up vaccination centres and extended opening hours as part of plans to protect the nation against the new Omicron variant. NHS England

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                    Covid: Call for volunteers as 500k book boosters in a day

                    Covid: Call for volunteers as 500k book boosters in a day More than half a million people booked their Covid booster jabs on Monday - despite the NHS website crashing as thousands sought top-up doses.

                    Boris Johnson revealed the figure a day after pledging that boosters would be offered to all over-18s by 31 December.

                    Long queues formed at walk-in vaccination sites on Monday, with some people waiting five hours to get jabs. BBC News

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                    NHS trusts criticised over system that films mental health patients in their bedrooms

                    NHS trusts criticised over system that films mental health patients in their bedrooms NHS trusts are facing calls to suspend the use of a monitoring system that continuously records video of mental health patients in their bedrooms amid concerns that it breaches their human rights.

                    Mental health charities said the Oxevision system, used by 23 NHS trusts in some psychiatric wards to monitor patients’ vital signs, could breach their right to privacy and exacerbate their distress. The Guardian 
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                    How does the NHS decide who they pay to treat - and who misses out? 

                    How does the NHS decide who they pay to treat - and who misses out?  The numbers are mind-blowing. In England alone, the NHS spends an average of £52 million on prescription medicines every day. 

                    Over the past decade, the annual drugs bill has soared from £13 billion to £19 billion. The Daily Mail
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                    Monday, 13 December 2021

                    Increase in Covid-19 patients in Northamptonshire hospitals as Omicron fears see alert level raised

                    Increase in Covid-19 patients in Northamptonshire hospitals as Omicron fears see alert level raised NHS figures revealed a jump in coronavirus patients in Northamptonshire hospitals ahead of Chief Medical Officers' raising the UK's Covid-19 Alert Level. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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                    New rules as visitors to KGH and NGH must provide proof of negative Covid test

                    New rules as visitors to KGH and NGH must provide proof of negative Covid test New rules are being introduced for visitors to the county's two main hospitals to help prevent the spread of Covid as cases of the Omicron variant continue to rise across the UK. Northamptonshire Telegraph
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                    Coroner's 'concern' over ambulance service's lack of action following Kettering boy's tragic death

                    Coroner's 'concern' over ambulance service's lack of action following Kettering boy's tragic death A coroner will take the rare step of issuing a prevention of future deaths report after an inquest uncovered concerns over the ambulance service called out to help a much-loved Kettering boy when he had a fatal epileptic seizure. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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                    A&E trips to Northampton General Hospital 35 percent higher than 2020 and adding to pressure on already-stretched NHS

                    A&E trips to Northampton General Hospital 35 percent higher than 2020 and adding to pressure on already-stretched NHS Fewer patients went to A&E at Northampton General Hospital in November – but numbers were still up by more than one-third on the same period in 2020. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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                    West Northants: Rough sleeper numbers 'massively reduced'

                    West Northants: Rough sleeper numbers 'massively reduced' Emergency measures introduced in the pandemic have "massively reduced" the number of rough sleepers in a council district, according to charity workers.

                    West Northamptonshire Council's annual rough sleeper count recorded 15 people as sleeping on its streets. BBC Northampton

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                    UK coronavirus (COVID-19) alert level increased from Level 3 to Level 4

                    UK coronavirus (COVID-19) alert level increased from Level 3 to Level 4 Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency and in the light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases, the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National Medical Director have recommended to ministers that the UK COVID-19 alert level should increase from Level 3 to Level 4. Department of Health and Social Care

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                    Covid: New booster target as Johnson declares Omicron 'emergency'

                    Covid: New booster target as Johnson declares Omicron 'emergency' Booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 in England from this week, the PM has announced, as he declared an "Omicron emergency".

                    "No one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming," Boris Johnson said on Sunday.

                    A new target has been set to give boosters to all adults who want one by the end of the month, he said. BBC News

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                    Seventy-five people have died in autism and learning disability units in England since 2015

                    Seventy-five people have died in autism and learning disability units in England since 2015 Seventy-five people with a learning disability or autism have died in inpatient units in England since 2015, Sky News can reveal.

                    It follows an independent review, commissioned by NHS Midlands, which found the death of Clive Treacey - one of the 75 - was "potentially avoidable". Sky News
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                    Blood supplies could soon become 'critical,' NHS warns

                    Blood supplies could soon become 'critical,' NHS warns NHS stocks of blood may become “critical” this winter, a regulator has warned, as Covid and higher than average winter rates of cold and flu risk donation levels.

                    The NHS Blood and Transplant authority declared a major incident at the end of October after its supply of blood supplies dropped to critical levels. The Independent 
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                    The secret NHS trust boss: the strain on hospitals is visible and visceral

                    The secret NHS trust boss: the strain on hospitals is visible and visceral The chief executive of an acute hospital NHS trust in England talks anonymously about the pressures the service is facing. The Guardian 
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                    Number of healthy patients ‘stranded’ in English hospital wards rises by 80%

                    Number of healthy patients ‘stranded’ in English hospital wards rises by 80% The number of patients stuck in hospital in England despite being medically fit to leave nearly doubled between February and November this year. The rise is worrying health experts, who say it is more evidence that the crisis in the adult care system is creating backlogs in the NHS.

                    NHS England data shows that the number of times hospital trusts were unable to discharge a patient who no longer met the criteria to stay in hospital increased from 223,593 in February to 402,211 in November – a rise of almost 80%. The Guardian 
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                    Friday, 10 December 2021

                    Health chiefs name England's Omicron hotspots as West Northamptonshire tops the charts

                    Health chiefs name England's Omicron hotspots as West Northamptonshire tops the charts England's Omicron hotspot was today revealed as West Northamptonshire as No10's scientific advisers warned the mutant strain could trigger the biggest wave yet — but UK-wide daily Covid infections dropped for the first time in over a week.

                    Up to 83 cases of the highly-evolved variant have been detected in West Northants with 27 officially confirmed by lab analysis, according to the UK Health Security Agency. The Daily Mail

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                    The NHS’s duty of care with its overseas staff

                    The NHS’s duty of care with its overseas staff Staff from abroad have long been invaluable to the NHS, not least in nursing where they make up nearly a fifth of the current workforce. Drawing on our conversations with communities of overseas nurses, this blog from Claudia Leone emphasises the importance of supporting and retaining staff from overseas. Nuffield Trust 

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                    What might ‘levelling up’ mean for the NHS?

                    What might ‘levelling up’ mean for the NHS? There has been much talk about levelling up over the past few months, with a white paper on how it will be achieved now expected in the new year. With different parts of the country facing unique issues when it comes to delivering health care, Rachel Hutchings describes five issues that could affect levelling up within the NHS. Nuffield Trust 

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                    Hidden health needs: the elephant in the NHS waiting room

                    Hidden health needs: the elephant in the NHS waiting room According to this report, NHS waiting lists vastly underestimate the scale of unmet health need in England. It predicts that without intervention the level of need is expected to peak at 15.5 million in 2023 and still stand at 13.5 million in 2024. The analysis also reveals the parts of country that are likely to feel this demand strain more acutely. Lane Clark & Peacock LLP 
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                      Record numbers accept a place to study nursing and midwifery

                      Record numbers accept a place to study nursing and midwifery Record numbers of students accepted places to study nursing and midwifery in England this year for the second year running, according to the latest data on university admissions published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Department of Health and Social Care 
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                      National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

                      National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Weekly national influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. UK Health Security Agency

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