NHS Performance Summary: December – January 2021

NHS Performance Summary: December – January 2021 Today, NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for December 2021 and January 2022. Here we show NHS performance against some key targets, including some of those set out in the latest planning guidance released earlier this week, as well as other indicators of patient safety and care. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• No let up for staff or patients with NHS facing historic levels of pressure The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the latest NHS performance data and weekly hospital situation reports The King's Fund
• Millions of patients will face long waits for treatment for some considerable time to come Nuffield Trust
• Despite intense pressure, NHS making significant strides in tackling the backlog NHS Confederation
• More tests and checks delivered despite Omicron winter NHS England
• Sickest face record long waits for hospital bed BBC News
• No. 10 U-turned on hospitals waiting list target as forecast hit 10m The Daily Mail
• Number of people in England on NHS waiting list hits record high The Guardian
• NHS waiting list in England surges past 6 million people as delays rise again iNews

Digital and remote primary care: the inverse care law with a 21st century twist?

Digital and remote primary care: the inverse care law with a 21st century twist? The Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to how people access primary care services, including the rise of online bookings and remote consultations. This long read discusses whether the shift towards digital primary care risks making access easier for people with less need and harder for those more likely to be in poorer health – and describes the actions that would help in getting access right. Nuffield Trust

The state of integrated care systems 2021/22

The state of integrated care systems 2021/22 This report is based on the views of system leaders, gathered through a national survey and interviews with a range of stakeholders. It sets out areas where leaders feel they have progressed well and where improvements are needed. It concludes that there is a risk that if integrated care system leaders are not given sufficient time and space they will not be able to deliver the changes to health and care services that the pandemic has demonstrated are needed. NHS Confederation 

Policy paper: Data saves lives: reshaping health and social care with data (draft)

Policy paper: Data saves lives: reshaping health and social care with data (draft) The draft strategy sets out ambitious plans to harness the potential of data in health and care, while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and ethics. Department of Health and Social  Care

UK completes over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences

UK completes over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences The UK has surpassed 2 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences uploaded to the international Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Boosters prevented over 105,000 hospitalisations, UKHSA analysis estimates UK Health Security Agency
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

End of Covid regulations: What if I'm still worried?

End of Covid regulations: What if I'm still worried? One of the last remaining Covid restrictions in England - the legal requirement for people to isolate if they test positive for Covid - may be scrapped in the coming weeks.

Boris Johnson says he intends to present the country with a strategy for "living with Covid" on 24 February. BBC News

See also:

• Covid isolation rules: 'How am I supposed to know who's infected?' BBC News
• Daily Covid cases plunge by a quarter in a week, deaths sink by a third The Daily Mail
• Researchers find RAT-BORN Covid variant circulating among rodents in the New York City The Daily Mail
• What is an NHS Covid pass and when do I need to use it? The Independent
• Covid testing: ‘Gold standard’ ONS testing set to be scrapped making it more difficult to monitor virus spread iNews
• Chris Whitty and scientists 'blindsided' by plans to scrap Covid rules in two weeks The Mirror
• Scrapping Covid self-isolation 'could have serious impact' on NHS, BMA warns Pulse

'Dental deserts' with no NHS provision on the rise in England, MPs warn

'Dental deserts' with no NHS provision on the rise in England, MPs warn Campaigners have called on MPs to "act now" to improve patchy and under-funded NHS dental provision.

Toothless in England said reform of the current dental system was "long overdue" and the government was "continuing to ignore the very real and acute needs of the general population".

MPs debated the issue, warning some areas in England were "dental deserts". BBC News 

Two cases of rare rat-borne Lassa fever found in UK

Two cases of rare rat-borne Lassa fever found in UK Two cases of the rare rat-borne Lassa fever have been found in England, with a further “probable” case being investigated.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the cases which have been identified are within the same family in the east of England and are linked to recent travel to west Africa. The Independent

See also: 

• Lassa fever cases identified in England, following travel to West Africa UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Lassa fever: origins, reservoirs, transmission and guidelines UK Health Security Agency

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lift all Covid restrictions THIS MONTH despite 140,000 in Northamptonshire unvaccinated

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lift all Covid restrictions THIS MONTH despite 140,000 in Northamptonshire unvaccinated Boris Johnson announced plans to remove all coronavirus restrictions a month early while one-in-five people in Northamptonshire are not vaccinated. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout shows the opportunities of place-based partnerships

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout shows the opportunities of place-based partnerships The vaccination programme has been one of the few almost unqualified success of the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has prevented tens of millions of infections, at least a quarter of a million hospital admissions and well over 100,000 deaths. The King's Fund

See also:

• The Covid-19 vaccination programme: trials, tribulations and successes The King's Fund

Getting to Net Zero: One Health System Fights Climate Change

Getting to Net Zero: One Health System Fights Climate Change In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) has set some ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint. On the latest episode of The Dose, Nick Watts, the NHS’s chief sustainability officer, talks about how the health service is meeting these goals, and whether its efforts could be replicated in countries like the United States. A low-carbon health care system, he says, is actually just a good health care system. The Commonwealth Fund

Measuring the economic value of community nursing: scoping the challenge

Measuring the economic value of community nursing: scoping the challenge NHS community services are an essential part of national ambitions to support people to manage their conditions, prevent ill health and deliver care closer to home. Community nurses are central to the care delivered for many people, across a broad range of conditions and needs. This briefing considers the challenge of understanding the economic value of community nursing, building on a roundtable discussion in March 2021 and drawing in other sources of evidence. Healthcare Financial Management Association

Does the cap fit? Analysing the government’s proposed amendment to the English social care charging system

Does the cap fit? Analysing the government’s proposed amendment to the English social care charging system This briefing note considers the effects of the government’s proposed amendment to the Care Act, which would mean that means-tested support does not count for an individual’s progress towards the social care cost cap. Institute for Fiscal Studies and The Health Foundation

Flexible working: raising the standards for the NHS

Flexible working: raising the standards for the NHS The NHS People Plan 2020 puts people at the front and centre of the NHS, including those working in primary and community care. This guidance sets out a preliminary definition and set of principles for flexible working. The definition aims to support the shared and common understanding of flexible working that is needed to achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. The principles aim to form a foundation for flexible working, and organisations are encouraged to innovate and test out approaches to support the embedding of flexible working. NHS England

Policy paper: Health and social care integration: joining up care for people, places and populations

Policy paper: Health and social care integration: joining up care for people, places and populations This white paper sets out measures to make integrated health and social care a universal reality for everyone across England regardless of their condition and of where they live. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid isolation law could be scrapped in England this month

Covid isolation law could be scrapped in England this month All remaining Covid restrictions in England - including the legal rule to self-isolate - could end later this month, Boris Johnson has said.

Under the current rules, anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for at least five full days.

The current restrictions are due to expire on 24 March. BBC News

See also:

• Is ending the last Covid rule 'brave or stupid'? BBC News
• Covid survivors are 63% more likely to suffer heart attack within year of beating virus, study warns The Daily Mail
• Covid infections started to creep up by 7% last week with 2.8million people in England The Daily Mail
• Covid rules are to be axed in England, but is pandemic’s end really in sight? The Guardian
• Is England an outlier in abandoning Covid isolation rule? The Guardian
• Covid isolation rules ending will devastate clinically vulnerable families, say campaigners iNews
• Catching Covid significantly increases the risk of other illnesses later in the year, study says iNews
• COVID-19: Removing self-isolation in February 'goes against fundamental principles of public health', scientists warn Sky News

'Massive concern' over rise in suicidal children during pandemic, major NHS care provider warns

'Massive concern' over rise in suicidal children during pandemic, major NHS care provider warns The number of suicidal children in England has soared during the pandemic, a major mental health support provider has said, warning “inundated” NHS services are preventing young people from getting help. The Independent

England’s hospital waiting lists may exceed 10 million by 2024, ministers told

England’s hospital waiting lists may exceed 10 million by 2024, ministers told Leaked data suggests NHS patient backlog likely to rise drastically in spite of national insurance rise

The number of people in England waiting for planned hospital care could hit 10.7 million by March 2024, leaked projections prepared for ministers and NHS bosses show.

Even under the best-case scenario, the waiting list could reach 9.2 million, according to modelling about potential growth in the size of the NHS backlog seen by the Spectator magazine. The Guardian

Breast cancer breakthrough as drug cuts risk of most tumour returning by 37%

Breast cancer breakthrough as drug cuts risk of most tumour returning by 37% A revolutionary drug could save the lives of thousands of women battling the most aggressive type of breast cancer, doctors say.

Pembrolizumab cuts the risk of the disease returning by 37 per cent in women with triple-negative breast cancer, a trial showed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Event-free Survival with Pembrolizumab in Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine
• Immunity-boosting breast cancer drug could save thousands, finds UK research The Guardian

Hundreds of Northants school pupils told 'stay at home' as Covid hits

Hundreds of Northants school pupils told 'stay at home' as Covid hits Hundreds of students at a Northamptonshire secondary school have been told to 'stay at home' after staffing levels dropped so low that safety could not be guaranteed. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Corby Covid vaccine trial volunteers thanked for commitment to newly-approved Novavax jab Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Memorial stone laid at Kettering General Hospital to commemorate those lost to Covid-19 Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire GPs held 200000 face-to-face appointments in December despite Covid jabs rollout pressure

Northamptonshire GPs held 200000 face-to-face appointments in December despite Covid jabs rollout pressure NHS figures reveal numbers of doctors seeing patients in person dropped only fractionally as vaccine rollout ramped up.

Fewer GP appointments were carried out in Northamptonshire in December, figures show, as health care workers across England focused on the coronavirus booster jab rollout. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire: Fresh oversight for troubled children's service

Northamptonshire: Fresh oversight for troubled children's service A newly-created Independent Improvement Board will monitor children's services in Northamptonshire.

It comes after the county's children's services commissioner, Andrew Christie, stepped down.

Government minister for children and families, Will Quince, has appointed Jenny Coles as chairwoman of the board. BBC Northampton

Doctors consider high levels of racism in the NHS to be a ‘debilitating’ problem, finds largest survey of racism in medicine

Doctors consider high levels of racism in the NHS to be a ‘debilitating’ problem, finds largest survey of racism in medicine  The BMA has shared interim findings from the Association’s Racism in Medicine survey and these reveal that doctors from all ethnic minority backgrounds consider racism a problem in the medical profession.

With over 2000 responses from doctors and medical students across the UK, the BMA believes the survey to be one of the largest of its kind on the experience of racism in the medical profession and workplace. Just over 90% of Black and Asian respondents, 73% Mixed and 64% of White respondents said racism in the medical profession is an issue.

See also:

• NHS 'riddled with racism' against ethnic minority doctors BBC News

Levelling up the UK: what you need to know

Levelling up the UK: what you need to know This briefing provides an overview and analysis of the levelling up white paper and analyses what it means for the health and care sector. NHS Confederation

Draft standards consultation: specialist community public health nursing, community specialist practice qualifications, and associated programme standards - consultation findings

Draft standards consultation: specialist community public health nursing, community specialist practice qualifications, and associated programme standards - consultation findings The consultation sought views on three sets of draft standards: those for specialist community public health nursing, those for community nursing specialist practice qualification and the associated programme standards. This report shows a large majority of the 2,363 respondents welcomed the three sets of standards, agreeing they were largely fit for purpose. Nursing & Midwifery Council

NHS publishes electives recovery plan to boost capacity and give power to patients

NHS publishes electives recovery plan to boost capacity and give power to patients The NHS and government have today set out a blueprint to address backlogs built up during the COVID pandemic and tackle long waits for care with a massive expansion in capacity for tests, checks and treatments.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard and Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the health service will build dozens more community diagnostic centres as part of the new elective care recovery plan. NHS England

See also:

• Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care NHS England
• Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on the NHS Delivery Plan for tackling the Covid-19 backlog Department of Health and Social Care
• Platform to improve transparency on wait times and provide additional patient support Department of Health and Social Care
• Workforce constraints must be tackled if the Elective Recovery Plan is to deliver BMA
• NHS elective recovery plan The King's Fund
• NHS Confederation responds to elective recovery plan NHS Confederation
• Trusts will work flat out to bear down on backlogs NHS Providers
• Nuffield Trust response to the NHS elective recovery plan Nuffield Trust
• NHS backlog needs radical ideas – but also, understanding that pressures are not confined to hospitals Royal College of General Practitioners
• Plan to tackle NHS backlog 'aspirational' without enough nursing staff Royal College of Nursing
• RCP responds to NHS Elective Recovery Plan Royal College of Physicians
• RCPsych responds to the NHS elective recovery plan Royal College of Psychiatrists 
• Plan to tackle NHS waits backlog unveiled BBC News
• NHS 'waiting lists are going to continue to grow', says Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chair Channel 4 News
• Sajid Javid finally unveils NHS backlog plan that pledges to eliminate one-year waits for ops The Daily Mail
• Plans to tackle NHS backlog threaten extra pressure on overstretched GPs GPonline
• England’s hospital waiting list will keep growing, says Sajid Javid The Guardian
• NHS waiting list plan ‘will fail’ unless pressure on A&E is lifted, doctors warn The Independent

Patients to receive better care as NHS and social care systems link up

Patients to receive better care as NHS and social care systems link up Patients will receive better, more joined-up care under new plans announced today to improve the links between health and social care.

The Integration White Paper sets out a vision for an integrated NHS and adult social care sector which will better serve patients and staff. Department of Health and Social Care

UK to pilot world-leading approach to improve ethical adoption of AI in healthcare

UK to pilot world-leading approach to improve ethical adoption of AI in healthcare Biases in artificial intelligence will aim to be eradicated in a world first as the NHS in England trials a new approach to the ethical adoption of AI in healthcare.

Algorithmic Impact Assessment (AIA), designed by the Ada Lovelace Institute, will be piloted to support researchers and developers to assess the possible risks and biases of AI systems to patients and the public before they can access NHS data. Department of Health and Social Care

Improvements seen in children and young people's wellbeing

Improvements seen in children and young people's wellbeing Thousands of children and young people in England are benefiting from support for their mental health and wellbeing in education, as new research shows an improving picture in their recovery from the pandemic.

The Department for Education has today (8 February) published its third annual State of the Nation report, providing an in-depth picture of the experiences of children and young people aged 5 to 24 throughout the pandemic during the 2020 to 2021 academic year. Department for Education

Weight loss jab recommended on NHS

Weight loss jab recommended on NHS Adults struggling with their weight could soon be offered a weekly injection to help shed unhealthy fat.

The treatment, semaglutide, branded Wegovy, makes people feel fuller, so they eat less, and not as hungry.

In trials, used alongside a healthy diet and exercise, it helped obese people lose a 10th of their body weight - about two stone (13kg) on average. BBC News

Call for six new mental health hospitals in England as buildings ‘crumble away’

Call for six new mental health hospitals in England as buildings ‘crumble away’ Thousands of mental health patients in England are being treated in buildings that are “dangerous” and unfit for purpose, Britain’s most senior psychiatrist has warned.

Dr Adrian James, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, urged the government to fund six new mental health hospitals as part of its promise to build 48 new hospitals by 2030. The Guardian

Chris Whitty tells medics they have a 'professional responsibility' to get vaccinated against Covid

Chris Whitty tells medics they have a 'professional responsibility' to get vaccinated against Covid Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, today publicised his letter to NHS colleagues urging them to take up the offer of a Covid vaccine to protect their patients from the deadly virus. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• AstraZeneca vaccine: Did nationalism spoil UK's 'gift to the world'? BBC News
• Minister sorry for not ending visit after Covid result BBC News
• More-infectious 'stealth' Omicron variant makes up 4% of Covid cases in the US The Daily Mail
• Pfizer forecasts $54 billion in revenue in 2022 from sales of its Covid vaccine and antiviral pill The Daily Mail
• Daily Covid cases collapse by 41% in a week to just 66,183 The Daily Mail
• Long Covid fuelling staff absences among UK employers, research finds The Independent

Doctors urge public to 'be mindful' of Covid as Northampton General Hospital admits 22 extra virus patients in a single day

Doctors urge public to 'be mindful' of Covid as Northampton General Hospital admits 22 extra virus patients in a single day Northampton General Hospital saw Covid patients admitted at a rate of one every 65 minutes during a single 24-hour period this week as pressure on bed space grew. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19: Northamptonshire major incident at an end BBC Northampton
• Kettering nurse: 'Ebola experience helped me treat Covid patients' BBC Northampton
• One in ten Covid patients in Northampton General Hospital may have caught virus AFTER being admitted, according to NHS data Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Government set for U-turn over Covid-19 jabs for NHS staff as hundreds in Northamptonshire are still not vaccinated Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Mandatory Covid jabs for NHS workers ‘to be scrapped’ amid staff shortage fears Northamptonshire Telegraph
• 10,000 Covid cases a week in Northamptonshire could be 'tip of the iceberg,' warns health chief Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Nearly 100 Covid-19 patients at Kettering General Hospital may have caught virus AFTER being admitted Northamptonshire Telegraph

Health boss vows to 'tackle health inequality' across Northamptonshire by 'empowering communities' through new programme

Health boss vows to 'tackle health inequality' across Northamptonshire by 'empowering communities' through new programme Public Health Northamptonshire (PHN) has vowed to 'tackle health inequalities' across the county through a new programme that 'empowers communities'.

PHN said it welcomes the government’s commitment to set out its strategy to tackle the core drivers of health inequalities this year through a Health Disparities white paper. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Government launches landmark reviews to tackle health disparities Department of Health and Social Care

Northamptonshire: Finding an NHS dentist 'a needle in a haystack'

Northamptonshire: Finding an NHS dentist 'a needle in a haystack' A woman whose husband had to go to A&E with a blocked airway due to an abscess in a tooth said getting access to an NHS dentist was like trying to find a "needle in a haystack". BBC Northampton

Public perceptions of the NHS and social care: performance, policy and expectations

Public perceptions of the NHS and social care: performance, policy and expectations This long read examines public perceptions and expectations of health and social care. It highlights key findings from the first wave of our new programme of polling research, delivered in partnership with Ipsos, that will track public views on health and social care every 6 months. The Health Foundation

Looking ahead 2022: challenges and opportunities for the NHS and industry

Looking ahead 2022: challenges and opportunities for the NHS and industry This white paper examines the challenges and opportunities for the NHS and industry in 2022. It aims to help those working with and supplying the NHS to navigate through this period of change and reform – establishing what the main challenges are, how they can be addressed and what part industry can play. It looks at new rules of engagement, new value propositions, new account management structures, new methods of securing market access, and new skills and competencies. Please note that free registration is required to download this publication. Wilmington Healthcare

Developing and leading ICSs

Developing and leading ICSs This short briefing paper summarises the key discussion points that arose from a panel discussion hosted by GGI and Coventry University on 17 November 2021. The event focused on the leadership and workforce challenges associated with the development of integrated care systems, with three speakers framing the conversation for a live audience. The three speakers were Professor Andrew Corbett-Nolan, Chief Executive of GGI; Sir Ciaran Devane, Chair of the Irish Health Service Executive and the Director of the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University; and Professor Jenna Ward, Academic Dean for the Faculty of Business and Law at Coventry University. Good Governance Institute

Patient experience before the omicron wave: the storm before the storm

Patient experience before the omicron wave: the storm before the storm This report, based on a survey of more than 1,000 UK patients conducted over a month just before Christmas 2021, finds the disruption to health and care services caused by the pandemic is profound and long-term. The survey found: two out of three patients lack confidence that the health and care system will be able to deliver high quality care and treatment consistently after the pandemic; more than half had not been kept informed about what was happening with their care; one in four did not feel they had been treated with respect and another one in four reported not being listened to; half had not been able to access the services they needed; and half had struggled to get GP appointments. Patients Association

Health and Social Care Secretary to launch new 10-year ‘national war on cancer’

Health and Social Care Secretary to launch new 10-year ‘national war on cancer’ In a speech at the Francis Crick Institute, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid will today (4 February) “declare a war on cancer” and launch a call for evidence to underpin an ambitious 10-Year Cancer Plan for England.

The Health and Social Care Secretary will set out his vision to make England a world-leader in cancer care as we learn to live COVID-19 – with renewed attention paid to innovative treatment and early diagnosis to radically improve outcomes for cancer patients. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Health and Social Care Secretary Savid Javid World Cancer Day speech Department of Health and Social Care

Consultation on removing vaccination as a condition of deployment for health and social care staff

Consultation on removing vaccination as a condition of deployment for health and social care staff Regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff are set to be revoked, subject to public consultation and Parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on vaccines as a condition of deployment Department of Health and Social Care
• Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 negative LFD tests Department of Health and Social Care

Plan to tackle England's NHS backlog delayed

Plan to tackle England's NHS backlog delayed A last minute intervention in Whitehall has delayed plans to tackle the backlog of patients on hospital waiting lists in England.

Details of the NHS England scheme were expected to be published on Monday.

The health secretary denied reports the Treasury had blocked the announcement, blaming the Omicron wave for the delay. BBC News

See also:

• Tough new targets will tackle NHS backlog, Boris Johnson says BBC News
• Delays to a plan to tackle England's NHS backlog not down to money - Sajid Javid BBC News
• Improving cancer care a huge challenge post-pandemic BBC News
• NHS England waiting times for cancer referral and treatment at record high The Daily Mail
• 'Just another cancelled operation': Fury over delays to NHS Covid backlog plan The Daily Mail
• The NHS elective recovery plan: how it aims to clear the surgery backlog The Guardian
• Boris Johnson promises tough new targets to tackle NHS backlog – video The Guardian
• Boris Johnson promises ‘tough’ NHS targets amid row over care backlog The Independent
• NHS cancer treatment waiting times at record high - how bad are they and why? Sky News

Novavax Covid jab approved by UK drugs regulator

Novavax Covid jab approved by UK drugs regulator The UK has approved a fifth Covid-19 vaccine, developed by US company Novavax, which offers up to 89% protection against Covid illness.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said it is safe as a first and second dose in adults.

Millions of doses are being manufactured at a plant on Teesside. BBC News

See also: 

• Long Covid: Brain fog causes work absence but swimming helps BBC News
• Deliberate infections give unique Covid insight BBC News
• Covid-19: Government writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE BBC News
• Covid survivors are more likely to suffer a cardiovascular condition The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases plunge by 38% in a week to 57,623 as deaths continue to fall The Daily Mail
• Britons who've had a booster jab are 93.4% less likely to die from Covid, study finds The Daily Mail
• UK is 'set to bin 3.5million Pfizer vaccine doses' despite their shelf life being extended The Daily Mail
• Politicians who criticised AstraZeneca vaccine 'probably killed hundreds of thousands', says Oxford scientist The Daily Telegraph
• Booster campaign stalls as ‘partygate’ undermines trust in official advice The Guardian
• Covid reinfections: why are they being included in UK case numbers? The Guardian
• Firms handed £1.3bn in Covid contracts claimed £1m in furlough grants The Guardian
• Pfizer set for record vaccine revenue as world’s dose-sharing initiative runs out of cash The Independent

NHS spending: How much money does it need?

NHS spending: How much money does it need? A new drug Kaftrio, now available on the NHS, has made a huge difference to patients like Luke Copsey who has cystic fibrosis.

Its list price is a mind-blowing £100,000 per year, although the health service has negotiated an undisclosed discount with the manufacturer.

For Luke, the tablets are priceless. BBC News

See also:

• Libmedly: World's 'most expensive' drug recommended for NHS use BBC News

New cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea identified in England

New cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea identified in England Three new cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea have been identified in England, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed today.

A woman in her 20s in London and a heterosexual couple in their 20s based in the Midlands have been diagnosed with Neisseria gonorrhoeae - the bacteria which causes the sexually transmitted infection (STI). The Independent

See also:

• More cases of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea identified in England UK Health Security Agency

Social workers warn of rise in mental health problems among children

Social workers warn of rise in mental health problems among children Social workers are warning of a rise in the number of children with mental health problems since the start of the pandemic, with official figures recording a 25% increase as successive lockdowns and school closures take a toll.

Councils said they have “grave concerns” over the growing demand for help, with nearly 1,500 children a week presenting with mental health problems – an increase that could cost councils an extra £600m a year. The Guardian

More than half of NHS paramedics suffering from burnout, study finds

More than half of NHS paramedics suffering from burnout, study finds Over half of paramedics are suffering from burnout caused by “overwhelming” workloads, record numbers of 999 calls and the public misusing the ambulance service, a study has found. The Guardian

See also: 

• Burnout in frontline ambulance staff (full text available with a Trust OpenAthens account) Journal of Paramedic Practice

Popping a paracetamol each day could raise your risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke by a FIFTH

Popping a paracetamol each day could raise your risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke by a FIFTH Popping a paracetamol every day could raise your risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke by about a fifth, researchers have warned. 

For years, doctors have considered paracetamol to be a safer alternative to other painkillers like ibuprofen — which can raise blood pressure. 

But now University of Edinburgh scientists have turned this belief on its head after finding that  paracetamol has a similar negative effect. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Regular Acetaminophen Use and Blood Pressure in People With Hypertension: The PATH-BP Trial (abstract) Circulation
• Blood pressure warning over long-term paracetamol use BBC News

We are taking a short break

Our health news service will be taking a short break from today.

We will be back with all the (health) news that's fit to print (to paraphrase the New York Times) on Tuesday the 8th of February.

Dr's Casebook: Covid restrictions are lifted but we still all need to take basic care

Dr's Casebook: Covid restrictions are lifted but we still all need to take basic care The easing of Covid-19 restrictions in England is dividing opinion. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• One in ten Covid patients in Northampton General Hospital may have caught virus AFTER being admitted, according to NHS data Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Nearly 100 Covid-19 patients at Kettering General Hospital may have caught virus AFTER being admitted Northamptonshire Telegraph

Tackling the inverse care law: Analysis of policies to improve general practice in deprived areas since 1990

Tackling the inverse care law: Analysis of policies to improve general practice in deprived areas since 1990 This analysis reviews attempts to tackle inequities in the supply of general practice services in England over the past 30 years. The report looks at policies on general practice funding, workforce, premises, contracts and commissioning. The Health Foundation

Chart of the week: How quickly are NHS 111 answering calls this winter?

Chart of the week: How quickly are NHS 111 answering calls this winter? Continuing our focus on winter pressures on the NHS, Liz Fisher looks at how NHS 111 has been performing recently. Even before the pandemic, the percentage of calls answered in a timely way by the service would drop from December to February. Is it a similar story this winter? Nuffield Trust

Special Health Authority announced for independent maternity investigations

Special Health Authority announced for independent maternity investigations Plans to establish a Special Health Authority to continue the HSIB maternity investigation programme have been announced in Parliament (26 January, 2022) by Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch 

Fourth report on the effect of the NHS Constitution

Fourth report on the effect of the NHS Constitution This report sets out the effect of the NHS Constitution on NHS patients and staff. It covers public and NHS staff awareness and understanding of the NHS Constitution and the views on the value the NHS Constitution brings to NHS services. It also details support for and use of the NHS Constitution as well as the progress made and areas for improvement to help raise awareness of the constitution. Department of Health and Social Care 

Rise in extremely drug-resistant Shigella in gay and bisexual men

Rise in extremely drug-resistant Shigella in gay and bisexual men Surveillance by UKHSA has detected a rise in cases of extremely antibiotic-resistant Shigella sonnei infections, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

There have been 47 cases in the 4-month period between 1 September 2021 and 10 January 2022. This compares to 16 cases in a 17-month period the previous year – between 1 April 2020 and 31 August 2021. UKHSA has been following this strain since 2018, but recent cases show resistance to antibiotics is increasing. UK Health Security Agency 

Latest data reinforces the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnant women

Latest data reinforces the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnant women The latest data from UKHSA shows that vaccinated women who gave birth between January and October 2021 had a very similar low risk of stillbirth, low birthweight and premature birth compared to women who were not vaccinated in pregnancy. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Boosters provide high level of protection against death with Omicron UK Health Security Agency
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19: estimated administrative vaccine uptake for people aged 18 and over UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Scientists warn over 'reckless' lack of vaccines for poorer countries

Covid: Scientists warn over 'reckless' lack of vaccines for poorer countries Scientists have warned the government that allowing large numbers of people in lower-income countries to go unvaccinated is "reckless" and could lead to new Covid variants.

More than 320 experts have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling for urgent action. BBC News

See also:

• Letter to the Prime Minister from the scientific community Global Justice
• Omicron's fall has slowed - should we worry? BBC News
• Vaccine for all future strains of the coronavirus begins tests in humans The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases fall 10% in a week to 96,871 despite warnings shrinking outbreak had relapsed The Daily Mail
• Majority of Covid inpatients in England are NOT primarily ill with virus for first time ever The Daily Mail
• Scientists warn of new 'stealth' variant blamed for fresh rise in European infections The Daily Mail
• ‘I’ll wear one for the foreseeable’: masks abound despite England rule change The Guardian
• NHS staff Covid absences falling but still higher than before Christmas The Independent
• IHU: How dangerous is the new Covid variant and where has it spread? The Independent

NHS patient safety watchdog launches investigation into community mental health care

NHS patient safety watchdog launches investigation into community mental health care The NHS patient safety watchdog has launched an investigation into community mental health care following the death of a 56-year-old woman, The Independent can reveal.

See also: 

• Community mental health teams investigation Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

Half of women have not had children by 30th birthday for first time

Half of women have not had children by 30th birthday for first time Half of women in England and Wales had not had a baby by their 30th birthday for the first time ever in 2020, according to official figures.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday reveal the number of women who do not have a child by their 30th birthday has increased by 32 percentage points in 50 years. The Independent

See also: 

• Childbearing for women born in different years, England and Wales: 2019 Office for National Statistics

Here's how to save the NHS £12bn... without damaging patient care

Here's how to save the NHS £12bn... without damaging patient care After almost two years fighting Covid, the NHS is under pressure as never before.

There are almost six million on its waiting list for routine treatments — 300,000 of whom have been waiting for more than a year, compared with just 1,600 before the pandemic.

Worse, thanks to a shortfall of 93,000 staff, it has rarely been less well equipped to deal with a huge backlog. The Daily Mail 

Northampton Covid cases among highest in England as Plan B restrictions set to end

Northampton Covid cases among highest in England as Plan B restrictions set to end Health chiefs say wearing a mask will still be vital to protecting the vulnerable when more Covid-19 restrictions in Northamptonshire are lifted from Thursday (January 27).

Northampton is one of the top four areas in England with highest coronavirus rates following another rise in cases. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Shopworkers 'desperately worried' by scrapping Plan B while Covid-19 cases remain high in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Homecare: Covid self-isolation and low pay creating staff shortages

Homecare: Covid self-isolation and low pay creating staff shortages A recent survey showed two-thirds of homecare providers are turning away new care requests due to staff shortages. The BBC caught up with carers in Northamptonshire to find out why. BBC Northampton 

How new ways of working in primary care are boosting patient experiences in York

How new ways of working in primary care are boosting patient experiences in York In this case study Dr Abbie Brooks, GP with Park View Surgery, York, part of the Priory Medical Group, explains how online patient triage and a range of consultation options are providing a better experience for patients and staff across the group. NHS England 

SBRI Healthcare awards £1 million to pioneering innovations to support the delivery of a net zero NHS

SBRI Healthcare awards £1 million to pioneering innovations to support the delivery of a net zero NHS SBRI Healthcare has awarded a total of £1 million to ten pioneering MedTech and Digital innovations to support the delivery of a Net Zero NHS. The new projects are funded through a nationwide call by SBRI Healthcare, in partnership with the Greener NHS Programme, and which attracted 46 applications from a range of organisations, including small businesses, technology start-ups and NHS Trusts. NHS England 

Updating ethnic contrasts in deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), England: 8 December 2020 to 1 December 2021

Updating ethnic contrasts in deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), England: 8 December 2020 to 1 December 2021 Estimates of COVID-19 mortality rates by ethnic group using linked data from the 2011 Census, death registrations, primary care and hospital records, and National Immunisation Management System. Office for National Statistics 

Government eases social care restrictions after booster success

Government eases social care restrictions after booster success Restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of Omicron in adult social care will now be eased as Plan B measures are removed following the success of the booster programme.

From Monday 31 January, there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes and self-isolation periods will be cut and now care homes only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• England returns to Plan A as regulations on face coverings and COVID Passes change today Department of Health and Social Care
• Over 5,000 people enrolled in UK-wide study for antivirals Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England UK Health Security Agency
• Positivity rates highest ever recorded in REACT-1 study, but prevalence plateauing UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Care home restrictions to be eased in England

Covid: Care home restrictions to be eased in England Covid restrictions on adult social care will be eased in England from Monday, the government has announced.

There will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed at care homes, self-isolation periods will be cut and care homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 days, not 28.

The change is the latest rolling back of Plan B curbs in England. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Face mask rules and Covid passes end in England BBC News
• Covid vaccines: The unvaccinated NHS workers facing the sack BBC News
• Small period changes after Covid jab seen to be short-lived BBC News
• Long Covid expert says the world is in 'deep trouble' and millions may suffer debilitating issues The Daily Mail
• Two Pfizer or Moderna vaccines HALVE the risk of getting 'long Covid', official UK data shows The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid hints that controversial 'no jab, no job' rule for NHS staff in England is under review The Daily Mail
• Anti-vaxxers storm Covid vaccine centre in Ealing to demand site is shut down because it's a 'crime scene' as they accuse staff of 'genocide' and harass members of the public getting the jab The Daily Mail
• COVID jab mandate 'under review' as 77000 NHS staff unvaccinated GPonline
• BA.2 variant: Everything we know about the new ‘stealth Omicron’ Covid strain The Independent
• COVID-19: Restrictions eased today as England moves out of Plan B and back to Plan A Sky News

Government 'consultation' on disability strategy unlawful, High Court rules

Government 'consultation' on disability strategy unlawful, High Court rules A survey of disabled people, used to inform the highly anticipated National Disability Strategy, has been ruled "unlawful" by the High Court.

The UK Disability Survey gained 14,000 responses but was found to have failed to consult with people effectively. BBC News 

England's NHS workforce education budgets delayed by merger

England's NHS workforce education budgets delayed by merger The budget used for educating and training NHS staff, including nurses, in England has not yet been set for the year ahead, an influential committee of MPs has heard, sparking questions about the future of the workforce. Nursing Times 

Ministers urged to act as GPs in poor areas ‘have less funding and staff’

Ministers urged to act as GPs in poor areas ‘have less funding and staff’ Ministers have been urged to act after a report found people living in poor areas face worse GP services with less staff and funding compared to more wealthy parts of the country.

GP services in poorer areas are underfunded, under-doctored and have worse-quality outcomes, according to a report shared with The Independent from the Health Foundation. 

About 300,000 in UK have potentially deadly aortic valve condition, study finds

About 300,000 in UK have potentially deadly aortic valve condition, study finds Almost 300,000 people in the UK have aortic valve stenosis, a potentially deadly heart condition, according to the first major study to estimate its prevalence.

The NHS would struggle to cope with the sheer number of people needing treatment for this over the next few years, with the number set to rise further, the researchers warned. The Guardian

See also: 

• Uncovering the treatable burden of severe aortic stenosis in the UK (open access) BMK Open Heart

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Navigating local health and care services

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Navigating local health and care services Patient engagement in the provision of Health and Social Care is a legal requirement.

Good communication is paramount in any walk of life and more so in the provision of health and social care. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

How better use of data can help address key challenges facing the NHS

How better use of data can help address key challenges facing the NHS This long read explores how the NHS in England can better use routine health data to help address current challenges, including winter pressures, the ongoing coronavirus response and the growing elective care backlog. The Health Foundation 

Time for local NHS leaders to take a first step in tackling poverty: pay staff the real Living Wage

Time for local NHS leaders to take a first step in tackling poverty: pay staff the real Living Wage The NHS England framework for tackling health inequalities turns the spotlight on the 20 per cent most deprived communities within each integrated care system. They are the core group in the Core20plus5 approach. Recognising that 12 million people – a fifth of the population – live in relative poverty, the majority of them in working households, it is impossible to tackle health inequalities without alleviating poverty and its consequences. The King's Fund 

Health and care bill: joint parliamentary briefing

Health and care bill: joint parliamentary briefing The NHS Confederation, NHS Providers and The King's Fund share concerns about the erosion of NHS independence as a result of the Health and Care Bill. They support the premise of the Health and Care Bill, and believe that the future of health and care in the England must be based on collaboration and partnership working at a local level. However this joint briefing covers two specifics aspects of the Health and Care Bill and amendments they believe would better ensure people across the country have access to the best possible care in their local community. 

Community pharmacy workforce survey 2021

Community pharmacy workforce survey 2021 This survey report and accompanying data set, commissioned from the Centre for Pharmacy Workforce Studies at the University of Manchester, provides a snapshot of the community pharmacy workforce in spring 2021 and will help inform future planning and investment decisions. Health Education England 

Two-thirds with Omicron say they have had Covid before

Two-thirds with Omicron say they have had Covid before Two-thirds of people recently infected with the Omicron variant say they had already had Covid previously.

The findings come from a large, continuing study, React, swab-testing thousands of volunteers in England.

More work is needed to know how many are true reinfections - but the results reveal the groups that appear to be more likely to catch Covid again. BBC News

See also:

• Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission findings (REACT) Imperial College London
• One in eight pupils out of school as Covid worsens BBC News
• NHS staff have duty to be vaccinated - Javid  BBC News
• Pfizer and BioNTech start trials of new Omicron-specific jab BBC News
• Mayo Clinic Expert predicts COVID-19 will be around until NEXT CENTURY The Daily Mail
• Home births in England may be denied if midwives without Covid jab lose jobs The Guardian
• Covid: Cases of Omicron sub-variant increasing in many countries, warns WHO The Independent

Hymen repair surgery and virginity testing to be banned in UK

Hymen repair surgery and virginity testing to be banned in UK The government is planning on banning a cosmetic surgery called hymenoplasty across the UK.

It attempts to recreate a woman's hymen, which in some cultures is linked to virginity, and has been described as a form of honour-based abuse.

The procedure will be criminalised, as will virginity testing. BBC News 

Ovarian cancer death rate falls 17% in five years, study finds

Ovarian cancer death rate falls 17% in five years, study finds Deaths from ovarian cancer in Britain will be 17 per cent lower this year than in 2017 amid increased use of oral contraceptives, according to new research.

A study published in the Annals of Oncology also predicts death rates from the disease will be seven per cent lower across European Union (EU) nations. The Independent

See also: 

• European cancer mortality predictions for the year 2022 with focus on ovarian cancer (abstract) Annals of Oncology

A worker in winter: the hidden life of a GP – angry patients, anti-vaxxers, extreme goodwill and exhaustion

A worker in winter: the hidden life of a GP – angry patients, anti-vaxxers, extreme goodwill and exhaustion n the first of a new series on the under-pressure workers holding the UK together in this difficult winter, doctor Laura Mount reveals how staff sickness, spiralling waiting lists and political pressure have left GPs on the brink. The Guardian 

Vaccination centre marks first birthday by closing in on 300,000th Covid-19 jab for Northamptonshire

Vaccination centre marks first birthday by closing in on 300,000th Covid-19 jab for Northamptonshire Northamptonshire's Covid-19 vaccinaction centre is one year old on Tuesday (January 25) and closing in on 300,000 jabs.

NHS staff and volunteers at Moulton Park have already given more than 285,000 doses — an average of nearly 800 a day — since it opened in the peak of pandemic's second wave. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Corby school closes for week as a third of staff self-isolate Northamptonshire Telegraph

Campaigners ramp up fight to keep GP surgery in Byfield as thousands sign petition

Campaigners ramp up fight to keep GP surgery in Byfield as thousands sign petition Organisers are urging people to make their voices heard when the decision to save the surgery goes to planning on Wednesday, February 9.

If it's turned down by West Northants Council when the meeting takes place in the Council Chamber at 6pm, Byfield will lose the surgery. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Elderly disabled man with dementia forced to wait 18 hours in A&E for bed at Northampton General Hospital

Elderly disabled man with dementia forced to wait 18 hours in A&E for bed at Northampton General Hospital A 71-year-old dementia sufferer from Northampton was forced to wait 18 hours for a bed at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) after taking a nasty fall at home. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Is the NHS overmanaged?

Is the NHS overmanaged? This long read examines the question of whether the NHS is overmanaged. Key points are: NHS managers make up circa two per cent of the workforce compared to 9.5 cent of the UK workforce; in recent years the number of managers has been cut, at a time when the NHS is facing its biggest challenge; and the NHS as a whole is under, not over, managed. However, persistent and misleading media headlines continue to claim that the NHS is overmanaged. NHS Confederation

Mapping the joint venture relationship between private healthcare companies and NHS medical consultants

Mapping the joint venture relationship between private healthcare companies and NHS medical consultants This report examines the growing importance of joint venture businesses between NHS medical consultants and private healthcare companies in the delivery of for-profit healthcare in the UK. Centre for Health and the Public Interest

See also: 

• Hundreds of England’s NHS consultants have shares in private clinics The Guardian

Health and social care near the end of life: can policies reduce costs and improve outcomes?

Health and social care near the end of life: can policies reduce costs and improve outcomes? This briefing reviews the evidence on health and social care needs and expenditures at the end of life. End of life costs are the main reason for high per person spending levels observed at older ages in many European countries. However, there is huge variation between individuals, with estimates suggesting that just ten per cent of people near the end of life are responsible for over 60 per cent of total end of life health and social care expenditures. High-cost individuals tend to be frail people with multiple chronic illnesses who use considerable hospital and social care services. The briefing suggests that a skilled assessment of patients’ needs, as well as support for them and their families, can improve experiences and may reduce costs of care. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 

Pandemic Pressures and Public Health Care: Evidence from England

Pandemic Pressures and Public Health Care: Evidence from England Delays to cancer referrals and treatment times have led to an estimated 32,000 missing cancer patients that should have already started receiving treatment. Meanwhile, pandemic pressures have adversely affected the quality of care received by non-Covid patients resulting in at least 4,000 additional deaths that could otherwise have been avoided in England. 

New research measures the short- and long-term impacts of these challenges on non-Covid-related healthcare services in England. CAGE Research Centre, University of Warwick 

Public urged to sign-up to world-first COVID-19 antiviral study

Public urged to sign-up to world-first COVID-19 antiviral study Adults over the age of 50 or with an underlying health condition who test positive for COVID-19 are being urged to sign up for a world-first COVID-19 study which is providing life-saving antivirals to thousands of people. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• UK open for travel with all restrictions removed for eligible vaccinated arrivals Department of Health and Social Care
• ‘Jab cabs’ and ‘jabs with kebabs’ to get thousands more their vital vaccines NHS England

Back on the Covid wards: How is the NHS coping now?

Back on the Covid wards: How is the NHS coping now? Plan B Covid restrictions in England are due to be lifted later this week, in a move the government hopes will gradually see the country move beyond the pandemic.

The World Health Organization's special envoy on Covid-19, has said that "light is at the end of the tunnel" for the UK.

But British officials remain cautious because of the high number of unvaccinated people, estimated to be around five million. BBC News

See also:

• Thousands needed to try new Covid antiviral treatments BBC News
• Long Covid: Ipswich Hospital worker says it has changed her life BBC News
• Birthday celebration for PM sparks new party row BBC News
• Downing Street party: When will Sue Gray's report be published? BBC News
• Covid travel tests to be axed in England for double vaccinated BBC News
• WHO chief warns that it is 'dangerous' to assume that Omicron is the 'endgame' variant of Covid The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases tick up again after a fortnight of Omicron fizzling out The Daily Mail
• 'No plans' to scrap Covid jab NHS mandate: No10 doubles down on move The Daily Mail
• Having his cake and eating it! 'Upset' Cabinet minister refuses to 'defend' Boris's June 2020 birthday 'party' in No10  The Daily Mail
• A full list of alleged government Covid rule-busting ‘parties’ The Guardian
• Boris Johnson attended indoor birthday celebration during lockdown, No 10 admits The Independent
• Boris Johnson had birthday bash during lockdown ITV News
• COVID-19: Vulnerable patients being missed off eligibility lists for drugs to fight virus, charity warns Sky News

NHS England plans dental ‘treatment blitz’ to tackle appointments backlog

NHS England plans dental ‘treatment blitz’ to tackle appointments backlog Hundreds of thousands of dental patients in England are to be offered weekend and evening appointments under NHS plans to tackle the backlog exacerbated by the pandemic. The Guardian

See also:

• Hundreds of thousands more dental appointments to help recovery of services NHS England

Can a sick note make you better? Dr Gavin Francis on the power of convalescence

Can a sick note make you better? Dr Gavin Francis on the power of convalescence After serious illness, busy lives mean a proper convalescence is now a rarity. But a full and proper recovery takes time. GP and writer Gavin Francis reveals why a sick note can be a ‘powerful prescription’. The Guardian