Wednesday, 12 January 2022

Ex-NHS chief bids to force ministers to 'reveal hand' on mental health cash

Ex-NHS chief bids to force ministers to 'reveal hand' on mental health cash A move that would force the Government to show it is “putting its money where its mouth is” on mental health funding has been proposed at Westminster by a former NHS boss.

Against the backdrop of other pressing issues such as tackling operation waiting lists, Lord Stevens of Birmingham stressed the need for the sector to remain a priority. The Independent 
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As a paramedic, I see an NHS ambulance service at breaking point, letting down those who need it most

As a paramedic, I see an NHS ambulance service at breaking point, letting down those who need it most | The Secret Paramedic Patients wait up to 12 hours. Some die waiting. How long must we wait for this dire situation to improve?

Waiting, and waiting, and waiting. For a GP appointment, a routine screening, a vaccine. To see a clinician in A&E, or for an ambulance to take you there. Waiting for a referral appointment, for the community nurse to arrive, for a care worker to call. The NHS waiting list feels endless. The Guardian 
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Tuesday, 11 January 2022

Covid: Military help could be sought in Northamptonshire

Covid: Military help could be sought in Northamptonshire Military help could be sought to deal with a major Covid-19 incident, according to council boss.

Northamptonshire declared a major incident on Friday, with critical services facing staff shortages.

West Northamptonshire Council's chief executive Anna Earnshaw said the decision would help keep residents and patients safe. BBC Northampton

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Hundreds of Northamptonshire patients don't discover they've got cancer until it's already at most deadly stage, figures show

Hundreds of Northamptonshire patients don't discover they've got cancer until it's already at most deadly stage, figures show Hundreds of cancers are not discovered until they have progressed to the most deadly stage of illness in Northamptonshire, new figures show.

And a leading charity fears a 'cancer catastrophe' could be on the cards if more is not done to reduce the number of people receiving late diagnoses. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

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The Health and Care Bill: House of Lords, Committee of the whole House, 11 & 13 January 2022, consideration of clauses 1-34

The Health and Care Bill: House of Lords, Committee of the whole House, 11 & 13 January 2022, consideration of clauses 1-34 This briefing on the Health and Care Bill provides commentary on amendments tabled for the Committee Stage in the House of Lords, scheduled to take place on 11 and 13 January 2022. NHS Providers 
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NHS strikes new COVID surge deal with independent sector

NHS strikes new COVID surge deal with independent sector Local hospitals will be able to quickly activate surge capacity in the independent sector as part of the national COVID response, under a new deal announced today.

A three-month agreement with multiple independent healthcare organisations will see their staff and facilities put on standby to support the NHS should the Omicron variant lead to unsustainable levels of hospitalisations or staff absences. NHS England 
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Covid PCR tests end for asymptomatic cases in England

Covid PCR tests end for asymptomatic cases in England People without Covid symptoms no longer need a PCR test to confirm a positive lateral flow in England.

The change reflects the high prevalence of coronavirus in the community and the accuracy of rapid tests, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

The surge in Omicron cases has seen many with positive lateral flow tests struggling to book a follow-up PCR. BBC News

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NHS staff: 'We're doing the absolute best we can'

NHS staff: 'We're doing the absolute best we can' "Just had a cry in the meds room - the NHS is at breaking point and so are many of its staff."

That's what Emma Scott-Spivey, a student paramedic, tweeted after a January shift in a North Yorkshire hospital. BBC News 
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First pig heart to human transplant is a game-changer, say surgeons

First pig heart to human transplant is a game-changer, say surgeons Surgeons at the University of Maryland in the US have successfully completed the world's first pig to human heart transplant.

Muhammad Mohiuddin, who co-founded the university's xenotransplantation programme, said that the heart is beating very well and beyond expectations.

David Bennett, 57, who received the pig heart in a seven-hour experimental operation, had been deemed ineligible for a human heart transplant. BBC News 
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Monday, 10 January 2022

Covid: Northamptonshire declares major incident amid critical staff shortages

Covid: Northamptonshire declares major incident amid critical staff shortages Northamptonshire has declared a major Covid-19 incident with hospitals, care homes and other services facing critical staff shortages.

Public Health Northamptonshire figures show there were 1,406.3 Covid cases per 100,000 people in the week up to 2 January.

The decision was made by the Local Resilience Forum (LRF), made up of front-line services across the county. BBC Northamptonshire

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Briefing on the Health and Care Bill: House of Lords Committee stage

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

Healthcare regulation: deciding when statutory regulation is appropriate This consultation is seeking views on the criteria used to make decisions on which health and social care professions should be regulated. It considers how the powers to introduce and remove professions from regulation might be used in the future. The consultation closes on 31 March 2022. Department of Health and Social Care 
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    New campaign launched to help parents improve children's diet

    New campaign launched to help parents improve children's diet The government's New Better Health campaign, including a new NHS Food Scanner App, launches today to help parents improve their children's diet. Department of Health and Social Care 
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    Boosters continue to provide high levels of protection against severe disease from Omicron in older adults

    Boosters continue to provide high levels of protection against severe disease from Omicron in older adults Latest data from UKHSA shows booster doses are continuing to provide high levels of protection against severe disease from the Omicron variant among older adults. UK Health Security Agency

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    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 7 January 2022

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 7 January 2022 n England, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 continued to increase in the week ending 31 December 2021; we estimate that 3,270,800 people in England had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 3,163,500 to 3,377,500), equating to around 1 in 15 people. Office for National Statistics

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    Covid: UK records more than 150,000 deaths

    Covid: UK records more than 150,000 deaths More than 150,000 people in the UK have now died within 28 days of a positive Covid test since the pandemic began.

    A further 313 deaths were reported in the government's daily figures on Saturday, taking the total to 150,057.

    The UK is the seventh country to pass 150,000 reported deaths, after the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru. BBC News
     
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    Calls to male sexual abuse helpline double in 2021

    Calls to male sexual abuse helpline double in 2021 More than 7,000 calls, texts and emails were received by Safeline's male helpline in 2021 - more than double the number of 2020.

    It's one of several services the charity runs for survivors of sexual abuse, and has seen a huge rise in people reaching out for help. BBC News 
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    Pledge to bolster GP surgery staff set to be broken, say health leaders

    Pledge to bolster GP surgery staff set to be broken, say health leaders A manifesto pledge to hire 26,000 extra health professionals to work in GP surgeries is set to be broken by the government, health leaders have warned, leaving family doctors straining under a heavier workload. The Guardian
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    Millions could be forced to pay for prescriptions with NHS rule change

    Millions could be forced to pay for prescriptions with NHS rule change Elderly people could soon be forced to pay for prescriptions as the Government considers changing who gets their medicine for free. Metro 
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    Friday, 7 January 2022

    Boris Johnson visits Northampton to call out anti-vaxxers labelling them 'completely wrong' and 'counterproductive'

    Boris Johnson visits Northampton to call out anti-vaxxers labelling them 'completely wrong' and 'counterproductive' The Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Northampton this afternoon (January 6) to discuss anti-vaxxers.

    Mr Johnson visited the county vaccination centre at Moulton Park where he said the people putting 'mumbo jumbo' on social media about Covid-19 vaccines are 'completely wrong'. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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    2022/23 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance: what you need to know

    2022/23 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance: what you need to know This briefing provides a summary and analysis of NHS England and NHS Improvement's latest operational planning guidance and priorities for the service in 2022/23. NHS Confederation

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    Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season

    Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. UK Health Security Agency

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    Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK : 6 January 2022

    Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK : 6 January 2022 An estimated 1.3 million people living in private households in the UK (2.0% of the population) were experiencing self-reported long COVID (symptoms persisting for more than four weeks after the first suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) infection that were not explained by something else) as of 6 December 2021. Office for National Statistics

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    Covid: Deadly Omicron should not be called mild, warns WHO

    Covid: Deadly Omicron should not be called mild, warns WHO The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against describing the Omicron variant as mild, saying it is killing people across the world.

    Recent studies suggest that Omicron is less likely to make people seriously ill than previous Covid variants.

    But the record number of people catching it has left health systems under severe pressure, said WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. BBC News

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    UK faces legal action for approving firm accused of using forced labour as PPE supplier

    UK faces legal action for approving firm accused of using forced labour as PPE supplier The UK government is facing legal action over its decision to keep using a Malaysian company accused of using forced labour as a supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS.

    Lawyers at the London-based law firm Wilson Solicitors have filed for a judicial review of the government’s decision to name the UK subsidiary of the Malaysian company Supermax as one of the approved suppliers in a new £6bn contract for disposable gloves for NHS workers. The Guardian

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    Are free prescriptions being scrapped? Why there are fears of NHS medicine charges for over-60s from April

    Are free prescriptions being scrapped? Why there are fears of NHS medicine charges for over-60s from April Vulnerable older people may have to choose between food and medicine if the Government increases the age at which they can access free NHS prescriptions, campaigners have warned.

    Raising the upper age exemption in England from 60 to 66, in line with the state pension age, would be a “disaster for tens of thousands of people who may face a new barrier to accessing their vital medicines”, said the Prescription Charges Coalition. iNews
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    First case of human H5-type bird flu found in UK

    First case of human H5-type bird flu found in UK A duck expert has been identified as the first person in Britain to be infected with a deadly strain of H5 bird flu.

    Alan Gosling, 79, tested positive for the virus during routine swabbing after the flock of Muscovy ducks he kept at his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, became infected and were culled last week. The Daily Telegraph

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    Global dementia cases will TRIPLE by 2050 unless people adopt healthier lifestyles, study warns

    Global dementia cases will TRIPLE by 2050 unless people adopt healthier lifestyles, study warns Dementia cases will triple by 2050 unless people adopt healthier lifestyles and education improves, a major study suggests.

    Experts warn of a potential dementia time bomb, with 153million living with the condition worldwide within decades.

    This is up from 57million in 2019, with the soaring numbers fuelled by growing and ageing populations as well as poor diets and a lack of exercise. The Daily Mail

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    Thursday, 6 January 2022

    Northamptonshire's mental health phoneline received more than 3100 calls for help in 11 days over festive period

    Northamptonshire's mental health phoneline received more than 3100 calls for help in 11 days over festive period Northamptonshire' s mental health help line received more than 3,100 calls in just 11 days during the festive season, averaging more than calls per day.

    The mental health number, which was launched back in April 2020, is a 24/ hour telephone helpline designed as the only number you need to call for mental health support in the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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    One in eight in Northamptonshire had a New Year's resolution to quit smoking

    One in eight in Northamptonshire had a New Year's resolution to quit smoking Figures show up to one in eight people in Northamptonshire went into 2022 considering quitting smoking.

    Public Health England data shows 13.1 percent of the area's adults — around 75,000 people — smoked in 2020, above the national average of 12.1 percent. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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    2021: the health policy year in 12 charts

    2021: the health policy year in 12 charts 2021 may have been another ‘year of Covid’ but there was still plenty of other health policy news, notes and data to recap in our annual round-up of the year. So before we turn the page to 2022, let’s take our annual chart-based look at the year that was. The King's Fund 
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    Omicron and emergency care crisis could derail plans to tackle backlog, warn MPs

    Omicron and emergency care crisis could derail plans to tackle backlog, warn MPs The Health and Social Care Committee’s Report on clearing the backlog caused by the pandemic finds that the elective recovery plans are threatened by pressure on emergency care with a record number of 999 calls and waiting times in emergency departments at record levels.  

    The Report concludes that tackling the wider backlog caused by the pandemic is a major and ‘unquantifiable’ challenge. It calls for a broad national health and care recovery plan to include mental health, primary care, community care, and social care as well as emergency care.  

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    Urgent steps needed now to avoid staffing crisis in the NHS

    Urgent steps needed now to avoid staffing crisis in the NHS The NHS is facing a staffing crisis which threatens the quality of patient care unless urgent steps are taken now by the Government to help alleviate the mounting pressure on front-line services.

    The NHS Confederation, which represents the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is calling for a range of measures to be taken in the NHS in England to support hospitals, ambulance services, mental health and community providers, primary care and social care providers.

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    Covid: Boris Johnson confirms Plan B rules to continue for three weeks

    Covid: Boris Johnson confirms Plan B rules to continue for three weeks England's current Plan B rules will continue for now, Boris Johnson has confirmed - as new figures show a record one in 15 people had Covid on New Year's Eve.

    In an update to MPs, the prime minister said the Covid measures will be reviewed again by 26 January. BBC News

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    NHS hospital uses robot technology

    NHS hospital uses robot technology The NHS is facing unprecedented challenges with long waiting lists for treatment and staff shortages.

    But could robots be part of the solution? 

    A hospital in Bristol is already using robots to improve efficiency in some behind the scenes roles and is now experimenting with how robots might interact with patients. BBC News
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    Nurse ‘victimised’ for wearing cross at work was unfairly dismissed, tribunal rules

    Nurse ‘victimised’ for wearing cross at work was unfairly dismissed, tribunal rules A nurse who claimed she was victimised for wearing a necklace with a Christian cross at work has won a case for unfair dismissal.

    Mary Onuoha, a theatre practitioner at Croydon university hospital, Surrey, was discriminated against and harassed, an employment tribunal ruled on Wednesday. The Guardian 
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    Wednesday, 5 January 2022

    New map shows Northampton's Covid hotspots

    New map shows Northampton's Covid hotspots Covid-19 cases spread so fast in Northampton between Christmas and New Year the government's interactive map needed a new colour to show spiralling infections. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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    East Midlands Ambulance Service receives record-breaking number of calls in first few hours of 2022

    East Midlands Ambulance Service receives record-breaking number of calls in first few hours of 2022 The ambulance service that covers Northamptonshire received a record-breaking number of calls in the first few hours of 2022. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

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    Another year, another variant, but what lies in store for the NHS and social care in 2022?

    Another year, another variant, but what lies in store for the NHS and social care in 2022? As I wrote 2021’s New Year blog exactly a year ago, the Alpha variant of Covid-19 was laying waste to the green shoots of recovery we’d begun to see emerge across health and care after the first wave of the pandemic. Back then, the vaccination programme was in its infancy, but still offered the hope of an ultimate end to the Covid-19 crisis. Here I write at the end of 2021, where once again recovery – for the country, for the NHS and for social care – is on hold as a new and deadly race takes place between the Omicron variant and another wave of vaccination. This is not where we wanted to be. The King's Fund 
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    Time for action: investing in comprehensive mental health support for children and young people

    Time for action: investing in comprehensive mental health support for children and young people This report, published together with the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, highlights the historic underinvestment in children and young people’s mental health, and the postcode lottery of support which has resulted. Public spending on children’s mental health lags behind investment in adult mental health services and there is wide variation in the amount spent per child in different areas. The report calls for a comprehensive mental health investment strategy for 0-25 year olds. Centre for Mental Health 
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      Telephone survey two: PCNs and Covid-19

      Telephone survey two: PCNs and Covid-19 The purpose of the telephone survey was to try and understand the role primary care networks (PCNs) had played in response to the Covid-19 pandemic; focussing on whether the pandemic had influenced and shaped the development and operation of PCNs and whether PCNs had worked collectively or as individual practices in their Covid-19 response. This short report comprises data collected between August and December 2020. Data is from eighteen qualitative telephone interviews with clinical commissioning group staff from across England. Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System 
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        New campaign launch reveals 6 major health benefits to losing weight

        New campaign launch reveals 6 major health benefits to losing weight A new Better Health marketing campaign has been launched today to help people prevent risks of developing serious illness and help reduce the risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19.

        Better Health is working in partnership with 15 weight management and physical activity partners who are providing both free and discounted offers and the website will also signpost to local weight management support. Department of Health and Social Care 
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        One year anniversary of UK deploying Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

        One year anniversary of UK deploying Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine One year ago, Tuesday 4 January 2021, the UK became the first country in the world to administer the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Department of Health and Social Care

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        Is the end of Omicron in sight?

        Is the end of Omicron in sight? Much as we'd all like the disruptions caused by Omicron to be reduced, it is still too early to know its trend, explains Matthew Taylor. NHS Confederation 
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        Covid: Boris Johnson plans to 'ride out' Omicron wave with no more curbs

        Covid: Boris Johnson plans to 'ride out' Omicron wave with no more curbs Boris Johnson says he hopes England can "ride out" the current wave of Covid-19 without further restrictions.

        But he acknowledged parts of the NHS would feel "temporarily overwhelmed" amid a surge of Omicron cases.

        The prime minister said there was a "good chance" he would not impose fresh measures and would recommend continuing the government's "Plan B" strategy in England to ministers on Wednesday. BBC News

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        Revealed: More than 300m expired PPE items in UK stockpile

        Revealed: More than 300m expired PPE items in UK stockpile More than 300m items of PPE in the government's national stockpile cannot be used by frontline health workers because they have passed their expiry date, The Independent can reveal. 

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        Lockdown hobbies led to thousands of injuries in England, NHS data suggests

        Lockdown hobbies led to thousands of injuries in England, NHS data suggests Popular lockdown pursuits such as cooking, DIY and buying pets led to thousands of people needing hospital care for injuries, figures suggest.

        Analysis of hospital admissions in England by the PA Media news agency showed that thousands were treated for injuries sustained as a result of activities that surged in popularity as people were confined to their homes. The Guardian 
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        NHS unable to treat every child with eating disorder as cases soar

        NHS unable to treat every child with eating disorder as cases soar The NHS can no longer treat every child with an eating disorder, a leading psychiatrist has warned, as “worrying” figures reveal hospital admissions have risen 41% in a year.

        A dramatic surge in cases during the pandemic has left already struggling community services overstretched with many unable to care for everyone who requires help, experts said. The Guardian

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        Life-extending prostate drug is ruled out for NHS use as officials deem it's not worth the money 

        Life-extending prostate drug is ruled out for NHS use as officials deem it's not worth the money A life-extending prostate cancer drug has been rejected for use on the NHS after officials ruled it is not worth the money.

        The innovative drug is the first ‘precision treatment’ for the disease, which treats men based on the genetic make-up of their cancer.

        It has already been approved for use in Scotland but will not be available to men in England and Wales. The Daily Mail

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        Friday, 24 December 2021

        Wishing all our readers a very happy Christmas

        We would like to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. 

        Our health news service will be taking a break over the Christmas holiday but we will be back on Wednesday the 5th of January in what we hope will be a better 2022 for everyone.

        The Library Team 

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        People with Omicron variant 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised, UKHSA says

        People with Omicron variant 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised, UKHSA says People are 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised with Omicron compared to previous strains of Covid-19, according to new evidence by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Northamptonshire Telegraph

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        Thief jailed for stealing laptops and phones after office break-in at Northampton General Hospital

        Thief jailed for stealing laptops and phones after office break-in at Northampton General Hospital A callous thief has been jailed for breaking into an office at Northampton General Hospital and staling phones and laptops from the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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        What just happened? Health and care policy in 2021

        What just happened? Health and care policy in 2021 A podcast that takes a look over the year that was in health and care, 2021. Helen McKenna and Siva Anandaciva, two of The King’s Fund’s leading policy experts, review the key themes of 2021; Covid-19, waiting times and performance, the reform agenda, funding and the workforce.

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        RCP survey finds one in ten doctors off work

        RCP survey finds one in ten doctors off work RCP’s thirteenth survey of members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that absence due to illness is rising, particularly in London.

        Across the UK, more than 1 in 10 (10.5%) doctors are off work and 1 in 24 (4.2%) due to COVID. In London these figures increase to 1 in 7 (13.9%) off work and 1 in 13 (7.4%) due to COVID. Royal College of Physicians

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        UK hits 30 million boosters as push continues to Get Boosted Now

        UK hits 30 million boosters as push continues to Get Boosted Now More than 30 million people – over 56% of adults in the UK – have now had their COVID-19 booster during a record-breaking week for top-up jabs. Department of Health and Social Care

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        Omicron: Good news, bad news and what it all means

        Omicron: Good news, bad news and what it all means The world is being hit by a tsunami of Omicron. Scientists, politicians and indeed all of us are grappling with what it means for our lives.

        Restrictions are tightening in parts of the UK and other European countries in order to tackle the new variant.

        There's a constant stream of new information - some worrying, some positive. So where do we stand? BBC News

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        Surgeons use 3D technology on patient for first time

        Surgeons use 3D technology on patient for first time An 11-year-old has become the first patient in the country to have kidney surgery using specialist 3D equipment.

        Libby, from Watchet, Somerset, was suffering from kidney and bladder complications which meant she was often in severe pain.

        Surgeons were able to operate on her faster and with greater accuracy using 3D technology during keyhole surgery. BBC News
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        West Suffolk hospital chair resigns after whistleblowing scandal

        West Suffolk hospital chair resigns after whistleblowing scandal The chair of West Suffolk hospital trust has resigned over a whistleblowing scandal exposed by the Guardian, as fresh questions are asked over why the trust continues to pay at least £270,000 a year to its former chief executive.

        Sheila Childerhouse was criticised by an independent NHS report for her failure to question senior executives who had hounded Dr Patricia Mills after Mills had raised concerns about a colleague seen injecting himself with drugs while on duty.
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        Ministers choose top banker with 'an outsider's eye' to run NHS England

        Ministers choose top banker with 'an outsider's eye' to run NHS England A senior British banker is set to become the new chairman of NHS England, after ministers sought an “outside eye” to make the health service accountable for its additional funding.

        Richard Meddings, a former chairman of TSB Bank, is the Government’s preferred candidate for the role, which will become vacant early next year when the current incumbent, Lord Prior of Brampton, steps down early. The Daily Telegraph

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        Thursday, 23 December 2021

        Christmas Day freedom for more than 2,500 in Northamptonshire after Covid self-isolation period cut from ten days to just a week

        Christmas Day freedom for more than 2,500 in Northamptonshire after Covid self-isolation period cut from ten days to just a week More than 2,500 people could be free to enjoy Christmas Day across Northamptonshire after ministers reduced the ten-day self-isolation requirement to a week. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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        Rise deaths of people waiting for drug treatment in Northamptonshire, figures show

        Rise deaths of people waiting for drug treatment in Northamptonshire, figures show The number of people who died while undergoing drug treatment in Northamptonshire has risen, figures show.

        Amid a rise in fatalities nationally, drug reform charity Release warned that drug-related death rates are higher among those not in contact with treatment services. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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        Northampton neighbourhood slams NHS staff over six-year parking 'nightmare' in busy estate

        Northampton neighbourhood slams NHS staff over six-year parking 'nightmare' in busy estate A Northampton neighbourhood has spoken out about the 'nightmare' that rogue car parking is having on their estate. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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        Bridging the gap: protecting the nation from public health threats

        Bridging the gap: protecting the nation from public health threats This report examines the UK’s policies and approach to health protection including the availability of the specialist resources, knowledge and skills needed to tackle the many diverse and challenging public health threats. Deloitte
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          Government sets clear ambition to close gender health gap

          Government sets clear ambition to close gender health gap Decades of gender health inequality will be addressed as the government publishes its vision to reset the dial on women’s health.

          The Vision for Women’s Health sets out key government commitments on women’s health, while recognising the system wide changes needed to tackle some of the issues raised, to be addressed by the upcoming Women’s Health Strategy in spring 2022. Department of Health and Social Care

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          JCVI issues new vaccination advice for children and young people

          JCVI issues new vaccination advice for children and young people Following extensive assessment of the risks and benefits of vaccinations for 5 to 11 year olds, including analysis of clinical trial results and real-world international data, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has updated its advice for this age group.

          Children aged 5 to 11, who are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of someone (of any age) who is immunosuppressed, should be offered a primary course of vaccination. UK Health Security Agency

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          Health staff ‘wrung dry’ by pandemic pressures,

          Health staff ‘wrung dry’ by pandemic pressures More than two thirds (69%) of health staff say they’ve experienced burnout during the pandemic, and three in five (62%) feel overwhelmed after long, intense shifts, according to a UNISON survey. 

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          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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