England abortion ‘pills by post’ scheme to be scrapped in September

England abortion ‘pills by post’ scheme to be scrapped in September Women in England will be able to access abortion pills more easily for the next six months, but the temporary “pills by post” scheme brought in because of Covid will then be scrapped in September.

Maggie Throup, the public health minister, confirmed on Thursday that women seeking to terminate a pregnancy by taking the two pills involved at home would lose that right at the end of August. The Guardian 

NHS figures reveal a MILLION fewer women were screened for breast cancer last year

NHS figures reveal a MILLION fewer women were screened for breast cancer last year England faces a breast cancer timebomb as official figures show a million fewer women were screened for the disease over the first year of the pandemic.  

In total 1.19m women had the vital tests in the 12 months to April 2021, marking the lowest number since records began two decades ago and down nearly half on 2.12m the previous year. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Decrease in women screened for breast cancer in 2020-21 NHS Digital

Only a THIRD of English adults have seen an NHS dentist in the past two years of the pandemic

Only a THIRD of English adults have seen an NHS dentist in the past two years of the pandemic Only a third of English adults have seen a NHS dentist in the past two years of the pandemic, statistics have revealed. 

Official health service data shows just under 15.8million adults in England were seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 months to the end of 2021. The Daily Mail

Northampton mum's hope 'no other child has to go through what mine did' after 11-year legal battle over daughter's brain injuries

Northampton mum's hope 'no other child has to go through what mine did' after 11-year legal battle over daughter's brain injuries A Northampton mum who fought an 11-year legal battle over her daughter Megan's catastrophic brain injury resulting from failed maternity care says no other child should have to go through the same trauma. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Northampton girl who suffered brain injury at birth gets £19m BBC Northampton

Tickboxes and tokenism?: service user involvement report 2022

Tickboxes and tokenism?: service user involvement report 2022 This report is the result of a survey which explored people’s experiences of service user involvement. This user-led research shows the current picture of involvement and explores the barriers that deaf and Disabled people face when wanting to share their lived experience. The report contains recommendations for those who want to run inclusive, meaningful involvement to shape their services and make them better for everyone. Shaping Our Lives 

The concept of seriousness in fitness to practise cases

The concept of seriousness in fitness to practise cases This report presents findings from ‘The concept of seriousness in fitness to practise’ project commissioned by the General Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. It investigated how seriousness in fitness to practise cases is understood and applied by health professions regulators. The findings reinforce that professionals who engage with regulators during the fitness to practise process will benefit through early engagement and this can make a positive difference to the outcome of their case. It also shows the importance of considering context when looking at fitness to practise cases, understanding the role of other people, the culture and environment they were working in when something went wrong. Nursing & Midwifery Council 

Supporting male victims/survivors accessing a sexual assault referral centre: good practice guide

Supporting male victims/survivors accessing a sexual assault referral centre: good practice guide The purpose of this guide is to educate and guide staff working in sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) to better enable males, including those from diverse communities, to access the support of a SARC following sexual assault and abuse. Where males do access support from a SARC, this guide will support SARC staff to deliver high-quality care that is responsive and understanding of the diverse needs of male victims/survivors of sexual assault and abuse. NHS England 

Covid: End of legal need to self-isolate in England

Covid: End of legal need to self-isolate in England All remaining legal Covid restrictions have been removed in England, nearly two years after the first rules were introduced.

It means people are no longer legally required to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid - although they are still advised to do so.

The changes are part of the prime minister's Living with Covid plan, to "transition back to normality". BBC News

See also: 

• UK's faltering Covid wave continues to fizzle as daily cases plunge 26% in a week The Daily Mail
• Freedom or folly? The end of England’s Covid restrictions (podcast) The Guardian
• Patients must still wear face masks in GP practices, NHS England says The Independent
• NHS staff told maintain isolation and testing measures despite end Covid restrictions The Independent
• COVID-19: All remaining coronavirus restrictions lifted in England Sky News

New sickle cell treatment given to first patients in England

New sickle cell treatment given to first patients in England Sickle cell patients have begun receiving the first new treatment for the blood disorder in over 20 years.

The inherited condition can cause severe pain and organ failure, often requiring hospital admissions.

Crizanlizumab is given as a monthly infusion and is thought to cut visits to A&E by 40%. BBC News 

Health unions criticise ‘miserly’ 3% NHS staff pay rise

Health unions criticise ‘miserly’ 3% NHS staff pay rise Health unions have criticised the government for offering NHS staff in England a “miserly” 3% pay rise from April, despite inflation having hit 5.5%.

Ministers have proposed the increase in their written evidence to the NHS pay review body, which advises what salary uplifts the service’s 1.3 million staff should get. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS pay recommendation 'final push for many to leave service' GMB Union
• Government's view on NHS pay shows it's not serious about fixing nursing workforce crisis Royal College of Nursing
• Miserly government NHS pay proposal won’t clear the backlog or help patients UNISON
• 'A tight-fisted proposal': Unions hit out at 3% pay rise for NHS staff and say exhausted workers deserve more The Daily Mail
• Government puts forward 3% pay uplift for NHS nurses in England Nursing Times
• Government suggests 2% pay uplift for salaried GPs Pulse

NHS lacks 6,000 staff needed to run testing centres in England

NHS lacks 6,000 staff needed to run testing centres in England The NHS does not have the 6,000 staff needed to run its promised array of new testing centres designed to speed up diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, medical leaders are warning.

The drive to recruit the radiographers and radiologists needed to take and analyse scans and X-rays at the community diagnostic centres (CDCs) in England risks already-understaffed hospitals losing key staff to work there, a “robbing Peter to pay Paul” strategy that would backfire, they claim. The Guardian

Coroner slams NHS trust over suicide of student, 21, and warns 'bullying and harassment' is rife

Coroner slams NHS trust over suicide of student, 21, and warns 'bullying and harassment' is rife A coroner has slammed a 'culture of historic culture of bullying and harassment' at a Norfolk NHS mental health trust where staff felt 'some suicides are inevitable' following the death of a university student. The Daily Mail

MPs approve former NHS chair as new head of CQC

MPs approve former NHS chair as new head of CQC The Health and Social Care Committee has approved the former NHS Resolution head as the new chair of the CQC.

MPs confirmed Ian Dilks’ appointment following a pre-appointment hearing on Tuesday 22nd February. Management in Practice

Living with Covid: Six deaths in Northamptonshire care homes linked to virus after government scraps restrictions on visits

Living with Covid: Six deaths in Northamptonshire care homes linked to virus after government scraps restrictions on visits Six deaths linked to Covid-19 were reported in West Northamptonshire care homes in two weeks after the government scrapped visiting restrictions last month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton girl's £19 million compensation from Oxford hospital after family's 11-year battle over failed maternity care

Northampton girl's £19 million compensation from Oxford hospital after family's 11-year battle over failed maternity care A young Northampton girl has been awarded nearly £19 million following her family's legal battle over catastrophic brain injuries sustained during birth.

The money will fund life-time care, equipment, therapies, and accommodation for 11-year-old Megan who has cerebral palsy as a result of failings in hospital maternity care. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Governing the health and care system in England: creating the conditions for success

Governing the health and care system in England: creating the conditions for success Where will system leadership and partnership working fit into the new operating model, and will commitments to devolve decision-making be fulfilled?

In this report, commissioned by the NHS Confederation and supported by Palantir, Professor Sir Chris Ham outlines the changes needed to create the conditions in which ICSs can improve outcomes for patients and the public, and outlines rules to guide those leading the reform programme. NHS Confederation

Stark figures show impact of shortage of anaesthetists on patients awaiting surgery in the NHS

Stark figures show impact of shortage of anaesthetists on patients awaiting surgery in the NHS A new report from the Royal College of Anaesthetists warns that more than eight million operations per year will be cancelled or delayed by 2040 unless anaesthetic workforce shortages are addressed.

The RCoA’s The Anaesthetic Workforce: UK State of the Nation Report paints a stark picture of cancelled operations due to a desperate shortage of anaesthetists. While the long-term view is one of eight million cancelled operations each year, the situation today is similarly bleak, with a weary workforce, burnout and staff sickness exacerbated by a 1,400 shortfall of anaesthetists.

See also:

• NHS faces ticking 'time bomb' of 8m cancelled or delayed operations due to anaesthetist shortage  The Independent

Beyond recovery: the case for transforming UK clinical cancer research

Beyond recovery: the case for transforming UK clinical cancer research This position paper finds that Covid-19 has worsened pre-existing barriers to clinical cancer research and recovering to a pre-pandemic ‘normal’ for research won’t be enough to deliver world-class cancer outcomes. Instead, the UK government must choose to go beyond recovery by expanding clinical research capacity, transforming how research is delivered, and supporting innovative cancer research. Cancer Research UK

The case for a men’s health strategy

The case for a men’s health strategy Presented with expert views, this report found that a holistic, evidence-based, positive and gender-informed approach to men’s health is far more effective than the government’s current disease/condition approach on men’s health. The APPG notes that this is not consistent with the government’s approach on women’s health as outlined in its recent vision statement (which the APPG supports). It also notes that the government has produced no evidence that its current approach to men’s health is working. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and Boys

Widespread support for proposed NHS mental health access standards for patients

Widespread support for proposed NHS mental health access standards for patients The NHS has set out new ambitions for patients to have timely access to community mental healthcare, following a consultation on proposed new standards, as it faces record demand following the pandemic.

Patients, clinicians, and the public have welcomed the proposed mental health access standards which include ensuring people in the community receive help within four weeks for non-urgent treatment. NHS England

New taskforce to level-up maternity care and tackle disparities

New taskforce to level-up maternity care and tackle disparities A new Maternity Disparities Taskforce will tackle disparities in maternity care experienced by women from ethnic minority groups and those living in deprived areas.

The taskforce will be established by Minister for Patient Safety and Primary Care Maria Caulfield and co-chaired by Chief Midwifery Officer, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE to make real progress in understanding the reasons for poor outcomes in maternity care. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS to tackle 'unfair' maternity outcomes BBC News
• The mothers who helped uncover the biggest maternity scandal BBC News
• NHS to tackle 'unacceptable inequalities' in maternity care, government says Sky News

Covid: Sajid Javid defends timing of end to Covid rules and free tests

Covid: Sajid Javid defends timing of end to Covid rules and free tests Health Secretary Sajid Javid has insisted the time is right to end all Covid restrictions and free mass testing in England.

All rules including the legal duty to self-isolate will end this week - and free tests will stop for most in April.

Mr Javid hailed it as a "historic moment" but warned the country must be ready for more variants in the future. BBC News

See also:

• How will the vulnerable be protected from Covid? And other questions BBC News
• Seven-week gap advised for elective surgery after Omicron BBC News
• Angry scientists accuse Sir Chris Whitty of allowing No10 to 'abandon' vulnerable people The Daily Mail
• Covid measures such as tests were never intended to be part of daily life, Sajid Javid says The Daily Mail
• 'Strong possibility' Covid jabs will be given every autumn alongside flu vaccine The Daily Mail
• Government starts to wind down the daily Covid figures: Stats dashboard won't be updated at weekends The Daily Mail
• NHS staff ‘excluded’ from free COVID-19 testing from April GPonline
• Care home visitors in England will have to pay for Covid tests The Guardian

NHS cuts to cover Covid costs may hit patient care, Labour warns

NHS cuts to cover Covid costs may hit patient care, Labour warns Patient care may suffer as a result of cuts to the NHS budget to fund the continuing costs of Covid, NHS leaders and Labour have said, after Sajid Javid refused to say where the axe would fall.

The Department of Health and Social Care is trying to make savings from its budget to fund free lateral flow tests for elderly people, Covid surveillance studies and genomic sequencing, after the Treasury refused its request for £5bn in extra funding. The Guardian 

In my 30 years as a GP, the profession has been horribly eroded

In my 30 years as a GP, the profession has been horribly eroded | Clare Gerada As I finished the final house calls of my long career in general practice, it struck me how detached I am from my patients now – and that it was not always like this. Where did we go wrong, and what can we do to fix it? The Guardian 

Women who conceive via IVF are more likely to have premature baby, mass study suggests

Women who conceive via IVF are more likely to have premature baby, mass study suggests Women who have IVF may be at greater risk of pregnancy complications.

A study of 34million women who gave birth in the US found those who conceived after having fertility treatment were 26 per cent more likely to have a premature baby. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• In‐Hospital Complications in Pregnancies Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology (open access) Journal of the American Heart Association

Running hot: the impact of the pandemic on mental health services

Running hot: the impact of the pandemic on mental health services The mental health sector has seen a surge in demand during the pandemic, with levels of need vastly increasing from 2020 to 2022. Approximately 1.6 million people in England, or one person in 35, are currently on the NHS waiting list for specialised treatment, and a further eight million people, or one person in seven, would benefit from support. NHS Confederation

Redesigning orthopaedic outpatient assessments

Redesigning orthopaedic outpatient assessments To support orthopaedic patients waiting for elective care, Dorset County Hospital redesigned its outpatient clinic assessments, opening a new assessment clinic in just five weeks. By doing so, the hospital has shortened waiting times, increased capacity and improved patient experience. NHS Confederation

Policy paper: People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper

Policy paper: People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper This white paper sets out a 10-year vision for adult social care and provides information on funded proposals that we will implement over the next 3 years. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Social care reform: government response to Lords Select Committee report Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Social care reform: an independent review by Baroness Cavendish Department of Health and Social Care

Prime Minister sets out plan for living with COVID

Prime Minister sets out plan for living with COVID Vaccines will remain the first line of defence against Covid-19 as the Prime Minister sets out the Government’s plans to live with and manage the virus. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

See also:

•  COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 Cabinet Office
• Government response: Health Secretary statement on spring COVID-19 booster vaccinations Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation statement on COVID-19 vaccinations in 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Living with Covid-19 strategy neglects the most vulnerable BMA
• RCN calls for protection of nursing staff as PM announces end to COVID-19 restrictions in England Royal College of Nursing

Covid: Chris Whitty urges people to continue to self-isolate if positive

Covid: Chris Whitty urges people to continue to self-isolate if positive England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has urged people to continue to self-isolate if they test positive for the coronavirus in the coming weeks.

From Thursday, people with a positive test will no longer need to self-isolate under law, but will still be advised to stay at home.

After 1 April, people with Covid symptoms will be asked to "exercise personal responsibility" in their decisions over interactions with other people. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: England ending isolation laws and mass free testing BBC News
• Covid: An axe has been taken to testing - does it matter? BBC News
• Extra Covid booster in spring for over-75s and high risk BBC News
• Boris Johnson reveals No10 will keep gold-standard Covid surveillance project The Daily Mail
• SAGE psychologist accuses No10 of 'abdicating responsibility for looking after the public' The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases fall to lowest level since NOVEMBER in 8% drop The Daily Mail
• All you need to know about the end of Covid rules in England The Guardian
• ‘Living with Covid’ strategy could do more harm than good, say businesses and unions The Guardian
• Tory row over testing casts shadow over PM’s Covid announcement The Guardian
• 'Pandemic is far from over': NHS leaders issue warning over government's 'living with Covid' plan The Independent
• Covid: Lateral flow tests already being rationed as government winds down free scheme The Independent
• Living with Covid: Too early to lift restrictions, scientists tell Boris Johnson after announcement The Independent
• What will 'living with COVID' mean when coronavirus restrictions end in England? Sky News

Millions in England face ‘second pandemic’ of mental health issues

Millions in England face ‘second pandemic’ of mental health issues Millions of patients in England face dangerously long waits for mental health care unless ministers urgently draw up a recovery plan to tackle a “second pandemic” of depression, anxiety, psychosis and eating disorders, NHS leaders and doctors have warned. The Guardian

NHS patient data breach could have big implications

NHS patient data breach could have big implications Personal data from tens of thousands of people has been leaked in a massive NHS patient data breach. The sensitivity of the breached data, which includes details of medical procedures for patients including children, mean the incident could lead to criminal proceedings, experts told Tech Monitor.

Patients miss out on genetic cancer testing due to NHS rules, researchers warn

Patients miss out on genetic cancer testing due to NHS rules, researchers warn Half of patients who could benefit from genetic cancer testing are missing out due to ‘complicated’ NHS rules, a new study suggests.

Experts from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have said NHS should widen out its guidelines on which patients can receive tests that can detect genetic mutations linked to cancer, after a study found half of patients carrying “harmful” genes would have missed out on testing. The Independent

See also:

• Half of germline pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants found on panel tests do not fulfil NHS testing criteria (open access) Nature Scientific Reports

Shingrix vaccine with 90% effectiveness set to be offered to over-70s in the UK

Shingrix vaccine with 90% effectiveness set to be offered to over-70s in the UK A highly effective new vaccine to protect against shingles will soon be offered to over-70s in the UK.

The jab, Shingrix, is widely available in the US and is far more successful at preventing the painful viral skin condition than the vaccine currently offered on the NHS. The Daily Mail

600,000 eye care patients are still waiting for treatment as NHS backlogs pile up

600,000 eye care patients are still waiting for treatment as NHS backlogs pile up Britain is spiralling into an eye care crisis, experts are warning, with thousands suffering sight loss that could have been prevented due to record delays for treatment.

Waiting lists for an initial hospital eye appointment have ballooned to more than 600,000 – a third more than before the pandemic. The Daily Mail 

All the Covid rule changes set to be announced by Boris Johnson today

All the Covid rule changes set to be announced by Boris Johnson today Boris Johnson is due to set out how England will “live with Covid” today as he considers scrapping all remaining restrictions.

The Prime Minister has said he intends to scrap the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test, with rules instead to be replaced with guidance. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

New mothers more isolated than ever at Northampton General Hospital during pandemic, survey reveals

New mothers more isolated than ever at Northampton General Hospital during pandemic, survey reveals Women giving birth at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust have felt more isolated than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey suggests.

The National Childbirth Trust said the removal of support from partners or family members as a result of Covid-19 restrictions caused extreme anxiety and fear for expectant mothers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Visiting restrictions at Northamptonshire's hospitals partially lifted

Visiting restrictions at Northamptonshire's hospitals partially lifted Visiting restrictions at Northamptonshire's hospitals will be partially lifted as the county continues to move through the pandemic

From February 19th, adult patients - who do not have Covid - at both Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals will be allowed one visitor, for one hour a day. Daventry Express 

NHS launches new gambling addiction clinics to meet record demand

NHS launches new gambling addiction clinics to meet record demand Two new gambling clinics will open in England this year, the NHS announced today as it faces record demand for specialist support for gambling addiction.

The two new clinics, based in Southampton and Stoke-On-Trent, will open from May and mean there will be seven specialist clinics in place across England.

The other five NHS gambling addiction clinics in London, Leeds, Manchester, Sunderland and a national children and young person’s pilot clinic will inform the rollout of further gambling clinics when the services are evaluated later this year. NHS England

See also:

• NHS stops taking gambling funds to treat addiction BBC News
• NHS severs links with GambleAware over industry connection concerns The Guardian

Covid: Living with Covid plan will restore freedom, says Boris Johnson

Covid: Living with Covid plan will restore freedom, says Boris Johnson Boris Johnson is due to set out his plans to scrap all remaining Covid legal restrictions in England, including the requirement to isolate.

The prime minister is to meet the Cabinet this morning before updating MPs in the Commons.

Mr Johnson said the end to restrictions will return people's freedom and "mark a moment of pride as we begin to learn to live with Covid". BBC News

See also:

• Woman isolating for 850+ days: We've been left behind BBC News
• Covid rules: Workers face terrible choice, says TUC BBC News
• Covid isolation laws set to end in England BBC News
• 'Stealth' variant may cause more severe disease and could evade monoclonal antibody treatments The Daily Mail
• Living with Covid plan: What rule-free Britain will look like after legal restrictions end The Daily Telegraph
• ‘We’re in a different world’: PM defends end of Covid rules in England The Guardian
• Ending all Covid restrictions ‘premature and not based on evidence’, says BMA The Guardian
• Second Covid booster jab expected to be offered to UK’s most vulnerable The Independent
• Ending of Covid restrictions could fuel sharp rise in cases, government scientists warn The Independent

Vegetables alone not enough to reduce heart risk, study finds

Vegetables alone not enough to reduce heart risk, study finds Vegetables may be good for you, but eating a lot of them is unlikely to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, a large UK study suggests.

What else we eat, how much exercise we do and where and how we live may have more of an impact, the researchers say.

But they emphasise that a balanced diet helps reduce the risk of many diseases, including some cancers. BBC News

See also: 

• Raw and Cooked Vegetable Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Study of 400,000 Adults in UK Biobank (open access) Frontiers in Nutrition

Sickle cell: ‘The revolutionary gene-editing treatment that gave me new life’

Sickle cell: ‘The revolutionary gene-editing treatment that gave me new life’ Jimi Olaghere thought he would have to wait decades to be freed from his sickle cell disease - but now scientists have engineered his blood to overcome the disease which left him in constant pain.

"It's like being born again," says Jimi, one of the first seven sickle cell patients to have benefited from a revolutionary new gene-editing treatment being trialled in the US. He says it has changed his life. BBC News 

Much as we love the NHS, we can no longer ignore the ethnic inequalities that beset it

Much as we love the NHS, we can no longer ignore the ethnic inequalities that beset it | David Olusoga A new report shows that the health service, like other institutions, has a deep-seated problem, a blight that Covid has made harder to ignore. The Guardian 

UK Lassa fever death highlights global threat of infectious diseases, experts say

UK Lassa fever death highlights global threat of infectious diseases, experts say The death of a newborn baby with Lassa fever in Luton is a grim reminder of the global threat posed by deadly infectious diseases. Three cases have been confirmed in England – the first time the acute viral illness normally only seen in west Africa has emerged in the UK for 13 years.

This weekend, officials from the UK Health Security Agency are closely monitoring hundreds of people identified as potential contacts of the three cases. The Guardian

Tens of thousands of NHS patients' private medical information leaked in shocking data breach

Tens of thousands of NHS patients' private medical information leaked in shocking data breach Private medical information about tens of thousands of NHS patients has been leaked in a shocking data breach.

The confidential files include hospital appointment letters for women who have suffered miscarriages, test results of cervical screening and letters to parents of children needing urgent surgery at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool.

Thousands of letters were leaked in error by PSL Print Management, a Preston-based consultancy firm paid millions each year by the NHS. The Daily Mail

NHS axes targets for natural births as C-section limits are dropped to improve standards of care

NHS axes targets for natural births as C-section limits are dropped to improve standards of care Hospitals will no longer be encouraged to promote ‘natural births’ over C-sections under plans to improve care for mothers and babies.

The NHS has abandoned targets aimed at limiting caesarean rates which assessed maternity units based on the number they carried out.

There were concerns these targets led to women pursuing natural births when a C-section would have been more appropriate, jeopardising their safety. The Daily Mail 

See also: 

• Abandon ‘normal birth’ targets, hospitals in England told The Guardian

Decades-old Bristol Stool Chart gets a makeover: Artists spruce up 'dull' scale

Decades-old Bristol Stool Chart gets a makeover: Artists spruce up 'dull' scale Artists have created new charts that lift the lid on what your poo says about your gut health.

They detail why having 'rabbit droppings' can be a sign of constipation and how an upset tummy may cause 'fluffy' poo with 'ragged edges'.

The three new graphics are a modern take on the Bristol Stool Chart which has been used by NHS medics since the 1990s to assess faeces. The Daily Mail

Covid: 'Getting vaccinated is best for my child'

Covid: 'Getting vaccinated is best for my child' As children aged between five and 11 are offered a low-dose Covid jab in England, the BBC has spoken to families at a vaccination clinic in Northampton about why they decided to take up the offer. BBC Northampton

ANDREW LEWER COLUMN: Hospital care remains a priority

ANDREW LEWER COLUMN: Hospital care remains a priority Covid restrictions have, in the past two years, significantly up-ended even some of our best made plans, writes Andrew Lewer MP. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A sound investment: Increasing access to treatment for women with common maternal mental health problems

 A sound investment: Increasing access to treatment for women with common maternal mental health problems One in five women experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or after they have given birth, with depression and anxiety the most commonly experienced. Maternal mental health problems can have a devastating impact on women and their families. But many find that they have no opportunity to disclose if they are struggling, or to seek help. Centre for Mental Health

Growing problems, in depth: The impact of Covid-19 on health care for children and young people in England

Growing problems, in depth: The impact of Covid-19 on health care for children and young people in England This year’s QualityWatch scrolling data story explores the dramatic and concerning effect of the pandemic on children and young people's health and the care they receive. This accompanying briefing explains the findings in more detail and discusses the potential implications for the younger generation. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• The pandemic has driven unprecedented surge in demand for mental health services for children and young people Nuffield Trust

A cautious exit: healthcare leaders’ views on the route to living with COVID-19

A cautious exit: healthcare leaders’ views on the route to living with COVID-19 The government is expected to publish its COVID-19 exit plan on 21 February. This comes a month earlier than initially scheduled and is expected to lift existing restrictions – including the requirement to isolate after testing positive – in England from 24 February.

Given the continued high prevalence of the Omicron variant, and pressures on services, this plan must represent a cautious and carefully planned exit if the NHS is to continue to concentrate on delivering the full range of care that people value and expect. NHS Confederation

See also:

• Nursing staff must be protected as COVID-19 restrictions in England set to end Royal College of Nursing
• Covid: NHS bosses call for free tests and isolation to remain BBC News
• Free Covid tests and self-isolation rules must continue, say NHS leaders The Guardian
• ‘Leap in the dark’: Government must publish evidence for lifting all Covid restrictions, says nursing union The Independent

New research reinforces the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

New research reinforces the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines The UKHSA-backed study is the world’s biggest study into COVID- 19 antibodies and regularly tests a large cohort of healthcare workers to answer the most important questions about the virus.

The latest paper focuses on the protection provided against COVID- 19 infection in those who have had 2 doses of the vaccine, as well as those who have previously been infected with COVID-19. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 7, 2021 to 2022) UK Health Security Agency

Child covid vaccinations: Your questions answered

Child covid vaccinations: Your questions answered Children aged between five and 11 in England will be offered a low-dose Covid vaccine, the government says.

Northern Ireland has said it will also follow Wales and Scotland in offering young children the vaccine.

Our health correspondents Smitha Mundasad and Philippa Roxby answer some of your questions. BBC News

See also:

• Just ELEVEN under-15s in England and Wales died of Covid in 2020, new official data shows The Daily Mail
• Health minister admits Government KNEW about links between Tory peer and PPE firm given £200m The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases plunge by another 22% while hospitalisations and deaths fall by a tenth The Daily Mail
• Next Covid strain could kill many more, warn scientists ahead of England restrictions ending The Guardian

'My child is in pain - but I'm helpless'

'My child is in pain - but I'm helpless' How children are becoming the forgotten victims of pandemic after disruption to care and support. BBC News

Midwives tell Sajid Javid to 'stem the tide' of those leaving NHS with patient safety at risk

Midwives tell Sajid Javid to 'stem the tide' of those leaving NHS with patient safety at risk The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on the Government to urgently invest in maternity services to stem the tide of staff leaving the NHS.

Despite promises to increase the workforce the number of midwives has actually fallen to 26,901, according to most recent NHS England figures, down from 27,272 a year ago. The RCM said it was concerned at the drop, which adds to the existing shortage of more than 2,000 staff. iNews

NHS boss earns £60000 more than her predecessor as she rakes in up to £260000, figures show

NHS boss earns £60000 more than her predecessor as she rakes in up to £260000, figures show NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard was hired on £60,000 more than her predecessor, government figures revealed yesterday. 

She is paid between £255,000 and £260,000 for her role leading the health service, Cabinet Office data shows. The Daily Mail 

NHS reveals more than 180 operations delayed at Northamptonshire hospitals at end of 2021

NHS reveals more than 180 operations delayed at Northamptonshire hospitals at end of 2021 The 'dreadful impact' of the coronavirus pandemic can be seen through delays to thousands of planned surgeries across England, according to the Patients Association.

NHS England figures for Northampton General Hospital show that 120 pre-booked operations were postponed on or after the day the patient was admitted between October and December 2021. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Harnessing the potential of automation and AI in health care: 15 recommendations for policymakers and the NHS

Harnessing the potential of automation and AI in health care: 15 recommendations for policymakers and the NHS The NHS faces a huge challenge ahead, as it works to recover from the impact of the pandemic while managing ever-growing demand.

Automation and AI hold significant potential to support the NHS in its recovery through facilitating improvements in care and productivity. But surveys conducted by YouGov for our report Switched on found both public and NHS staff opinion divided on whether automation and AI are a good thing for health care – with the prospect of health care becoming more ‘impersonal’ with less human contact ranked as the biggest risk. The Health Foundation 

Childhood cancer inequalities in the WHO European Region

Childhood cancer inequalities in the WHO European Region This report sets out for the first time the evidence on childhood cancer inequalities in the Region, and examines the patterns that emerge at national and regional levels of childhood cancer incidence, patient and caregiver experiences, and short- and long-term outcomes for patients. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 

Independent report: JCVI update on advice for COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11

Independent report: JCVI update on advice for COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 JCVI advises a non-urgent offer of two 10 mcg doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty®) to children aged 5 to 11 years of age who are not in a clinical risk group.

The intention of this offer is to increase the immunity of vaccinated individuals against severe COVID-19 in advance of a potential future wave of COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Government response: Health Secretary statement on COVID-19 vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children aged 5 to 11 years UK Health Security Agency
• JCVI updates advice on vaccinations for 5 to 11 age group UK Health Security Agency

Covid: What's life like for unvaccinated people in the UK?

Covid: What's life like for unvaccinated people in the UK? About five million adults in the UK still haven't had a Covid vaccine, according to government figures and ONS population estimates.

Covid vaccines offer very high levels of protection against infection and are safe.

Leicester's director of public health, who took the city through the UK's first local lockdown, is warning unvaccinated people about the impact their behaviour could have on others.

Some of those who've chosen not to be jabbed have been speaking to the BBC's community affairs correspondent, Adina Campbell. BBC News

See also:

• England to offer Covid jab to five to 11-year-olds BBC News
• Covid survivors are up to 40% more likely to go on to suffer depression and anxiety or misuse drugs The Daily Mail
• Scaling back free Covid tests could hinder UK if new variant emerges, say experts The Guardian
• Vaccine offer lets parents weigh finely balanced benefits and risks The Guardian
• Boris Johnson’s Covid plan puts 500,000 ‘forgotten victims’ at risk, charities warn The Independent

Lassa fever: NHS services in the East of England hit as staff isolate

Lassa fever: NHS services in the East of England hit as staff isolate NHS services across the east of England continue to be affected after three cases of Lassa fever were discovered in the region.

A newborn baby died at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, an adult was cared for at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge and another has since recovered.

Staff who had been in contact with the patients are having to isolate. BBC News 

Two glasses of wine enough to hit daily sugar limit

Two glasses of wine enough to hit daily sugar limit Analysis of more than 30 bottles of wine has found two glasses could be enough to reach the recommended daily sugar limit for adults.

Research by Alcohol Health Alliance UK found some bottles had up to 59g of sugar - more than a glazed doughnut. BBC News

See also: 

• Sugar content in wine revealed: Health experts deem alcohol labelling ‘woefully inadequate’ Alcohol Health Alliance UK

Simple DNA test could detect common neurological disorders, study says

Simple DNA test could detect common neurological disorders, study says A simple test could end years of uncertainty for people with relatively common neurological conditions, new research has found.

A new study suggests that whole genome sequencing (WGS) can quickly and accurately detect the most common inherited neurological disorders, and could be implemented in routine clinical practice with immediate effect. The Guardian

See also: 

• Whole genome sequencing for the diagnosis of neurological repeat expansion disorders in the UK: a retrospective diagnostic accuracy and prospective clinical validation study (open access) The Lancet Neurology

Health charities urge PM not to cave in on obesity action

Health charities urge PM not to cave in on obesity action Boris Johnson was last night urged to 'hold fast' on plans to limit buy-one-get-one-free deals and ban junk food adverts before 9pm.

The Obesity Health Alliance has written to the Prime Minister warning him not to cave in to pressure from his backbenchers and industry to water down the policies. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Health leaders issue stark warning to Prime Minister: Don’t U-turn on children’s health Obesity Health Alliance

Thousands of Northamptonshire teenagers have not had one Covid jab as Boris Johnson gets set to scrap isolation rules

Thousands of Northamptonshire teenagers have not had one Covid jab as Boris Johnson gets set to scrap isolation rules Thousands of unvaccinated Northamptonshire teenagers will return school on Monday (February 21) just as the government scraps Covid quarantine rules.

More than four in ten youngsters in the 12-to-15 year age group have not had even one jab and number of those coming forward to get one has slowed. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Tired of being exhausted: seven key actions for leaders in the NHS workforce crisis

Tired of being exhausted: seven key actions for leaders in the NHS workforce crisis ‘I’m exhausted from being exhausted...’ is the harrowing expression of weary, depleted staff across the NHS and in social care.  

We know the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on staff in health and social care, but even before the pandemic, these sectors were facing the biggest staffing crisis since the introduction of the welfare state in 1948. High levels of vacancies, sickness absence, staff turnover and stress were typical with damaging consequences for staff health, which puts patient and service-user safety and quality of care at risk, and undermines organisational performance. The King's Fund 

Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care

Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care The Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee has said the Government has missed an opportunity to alleviate the workforce crisis in the NHS and social care by rejecting the Committee’s recommendation to overhaul workforce planning. Today the Government has published its response to the Committee’s June 2021 Report, Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care.

In its report, the Committee warned that workforce burnout across NHS and care systems had reached emergency level and was risking the future functioning of services. 

New guidelines to support disabled children to be more active

New guidelines to support disabled children to be more active Disabled children and young people will be supported to be more physically active following the publication of new guidelines from the UK Chief Medical Officers. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Guidance: Physical activity guidelines: disabled children and disabled young people Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: Physical activity in disabled children and disabled young people: evidence review Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: Physical activity guidelines for disabled children and disabled young people: methodology Department of Health and Social Care

UK Government awards £10 million for vaccines research to combat potential epidemics in developing countries

UK Government awards £10 million for vaccines research to combat potential epidemics in developing countries 22 research projects have been selected by the government’s UK Vaccine Network and will help tackle viruses such as Ebola, Lassa Fever and Zika. Department of Health and Social Care 

Vaccinated less likely to develop long Covid

Vaccinated less likely to develop long Covid People who are vaccinated are less likely to develop long Covid even if they catch the virus, a rapid review by the UK Health Security Agency reveals.

It looked at the available evidence to date from 15 studies around the world.

The findings suggest that while some who are jabbed catch Covid, vaccines reduce infection risk and illness, including symptoms like fatigue. BBC News

See also:

• How do we know Covid vaccines are safe?  BBC News
• 'I've seen the worst of Covid - but new drugs can tame the virus' BBC News
• Covid deaths in UK continue to fall  BBC News
• Covid UK: A THIRD of infected victims now die primarily from other conditions in England and Wales The Daily Mail
• Free lateral flow tests 'will be axed under Government's new Living With Covid Strategy' The Daily Mail
• EU set to bin 25 million more vaccine doses than it has donated to Africa this year The Independent

Doctors call for action not words from NHS in response to racial inequality report

Doctors call for action not words from NHS in response to racial inequality report Health officials have “paid lip service” to racism in the NHS for years, leading black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors have warned as they called for “concrete” action to tackle inequalities exposed by a landmark review. The Guardian

See also: 

• Racial health inequality is stark and requires concerted action, says review The BMJ
• NHS needs radical action to tackle ethnic health inequalities, major review finds GPonline
• Review finds NHS nurses enduring 'covert and overt' racial discrimination Nursing Times

Sanction against 150 doctors for sexual misconduct are ‘tip of the iceberg’, medics warn

Sanction against 150 doctors for sexual misconduct are ‘tip of the iceberg’, medics warn Nearly 150 doctors have been disciplined for sexual misconduct in the last five years, as surgeons call for action on the “systemic” and “cultural” problem of sexual assault within healthcare, The Independent can reveal.

See also: 

• Sexual assault in surgery: a painful truth (open access) Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons

Ex-health secretary Matt Hancock did not comply with equality duty when making top COVID appointments, High Court rules

Ex-health secretary Matt Hancock did not comply with equality duty when making top COVID appointments, High Court rules The High Court finds that ex-health secretary Matt Hancock failed to comply with an equality duty when appointing Conservative peer Baroness Dido Harding as the interim chief of a new public health body, and ex-Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe to an NHS Test and Trace role. Sky News 

Government relaxes immigration rules for care worker jobs because of staffing shortages which has left crippled sector 'on its knees'

Government relaxes immigration rules for care worker jobs because of staffing shortages which has left crippled sector 'on its knees' Immigration rules for care workers were relaxed today because of crippling staffing shortages that have left the sector 'on its knees'.

More than 105,000 care jobs are currently going unfilled — equivalent to about one in 12 positions in the workforce. Vacancy rates spiralled when No10's 'no jab, no job' mandate kicked in last November. The Daily Mail 

One pill with a tiny camera inside could spot cancer and help cut waiting lists at Northampton General Hospital

One pill with a tiny camera inside could spot cancer and help cut waiting lists at Northampton General Hospital Doctors at Northampton General Hospital are using a tiny camera inside a 'pill' to help diagnose bowel problems.

Patients swallow a capsule only slightly bigger than a regular pain relief tablet, which then sends back up to 50,000 images of internal organs rather than needing to go through invasive procedures. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Chart of the week: How do ambulance handover delays vary across England?

Chart of the week: How do ambulance handover delays vary across England? Ambulance handover delays are when an ambulance has arrived at a hospital with a patient, but the transfer of their care to hospital staff is delayed. Handover delays of over 30 minutes have been more common across England this winter than in previous years, but how does the situation vary in different parts of the country? Nuffield Trust 

Young people are the future: how can recruiters encourage more of them to join the NHS workforce?

Young people are the future: how can recruiters encourage more of them to join the NHS workforce? Despite being one of the biggest employers in England, only 6 per cent of the NHS workforce is under 25. The average age of staff in the NHS tends to be towards the mid-40s, partly because the NHS has a larger proportion of jobs that require professional qualifications than some other sectors. The King's Fund 

Ethnic inequalities in healthcare: a rapid evidence review

Ethnic inequalities in healthcare: a rapid evidence review This review into ethnic inequalities in healthcare has revealed vast inequalities across a range of health services. Some of the largest inequalities were found for mental healthcare where treatment for Black groups was particularly poor. The review also found there was a lack of research into specific areas including how outcomes may differ for ethnic minority babies in neonatal healthcare settings, where just one study was found to investigate health disparities in the care of ethnic minority new-born babies. NHS Race and Health Observatory

See also: 

• Racism: time to deliver on change BMA
• Review reveals 'vast' ethnic inequalities in NHS services BBC News
• Call for action to tackle 'overwhelming' ethnic inequalities in NHS services Channel 4 News
• NHS race review should be cue to finally tackle health inequalities The Guardian

What do NHS managers contribute?

What do NHS managers contribute? This long read examines the contribution that NHS managers make and why investment in management and leadership is essential in securing productivity, quality and reform. NHS Confederation 

Elective recovery plan: what you need to know

Elective recovery plan: what you need to know A summary of the national elective recovery plan and analysis of what it means. NHS Confederation 

Pharmaceuticals in rivers threaten world health - study

Pharmaceuticals in rivers threaten world health - study Pollution of the world's rivers from medicines and pharmaceutical products poses a "threat to environmental and global health", a report says.

Paracetamol, nicotine, caffeine and epilepsy and diabetes drugs were widely detected in a University of York study.

The research is among the most extensive undertaken on a global scale. BBC News

See also: 

• Pharmaceutical pollution of the world’s rivers (open access) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 

UK ministers press ahead with plan to wind down Covid testing

UK ministers press ahead with plan to wind down Covid testing Ministers are pressing ahead with plans to start winding down Covid testing and payments for isolation from next week to save more than £10bn, despite health chiefs warning that this could hamper crucial research into antiviral treatments.

No 10, the Treasury and the health department will decide this week on a “living with Covid strategy” due to be unveiled on Monday, which will involve phasing out free Covid testing and all but ending the tracing system. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: PPE waste could be recycled - health minister BBC News
• Covid UK: Daily cases fall for 13th day in a row to just 41,648 The Daily Mail
• What will ‘living with Covid’ actually mean? The Guardian
• Bereaved families call for PM to lose say over UK Covid inquiry topics The Guardian
• NHS long Covid mobile testing units could be rolled out in areas worst hit by pandemic iNews
• Fears over UK ability to tackle variants as Covid testing is scrapped The Independent
• Covid hospital admissions fall below 1,000 for first time in nearly two months as Omicron wave recedes The Independent

Two NHS staff are disciplined every day for mishandling files and snooping on patient records

Two NHS staff are disciplined every day for mishandling files and snooping on patient records More than two NHS workers are sanctioned every day for mishandling patient records, an investigation has revealed.

NHS staff employed by Acute and Mental Health Trusts were disciplined 652 times over two years for breaching patient privacy, with many incidents involving nosey employees looking up medical records of friends, family, colleagues and neighbours. The Daily Mail 

Depression may increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, major study warns

Depression may increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, major study warns Depression may increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes — even if someone leads an otherwise healthy lifestyle.

A study of more than 300,000 Britons found those who reported being happy often were a third less likely to develop the chronic conditions. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Low depression frequency is associated with decreased risk of cardiometabolic disease (open access) Nature Cardiovascular Disease

Boris Johnson's plan to scrap Covid isolation rules was 'bit of a surprise,' admits Northamptonshire's interim health chief

Boris Johnson's plan to scrap Covid isolation rules was 'bit of a surprise,' admits Northamptonshire's interim health chief Health chiefs in Northamptonshire admit Boris Johnson announcement about scrapping Covid self-isolation rules later this month came as 'a bit of a surprise.'

John Ashton, the county's interim director of public health, confessed: "In recent days and weeks, things have been moved forward faster than many of us anticipated." Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Children and young people’s mental health: COVID-19 and the road ahead

Children and young people’s mental health: COVID-19 and the road ahead Mental health conditions have become more common among children and young people. Here, we explore what we know about the state of children and young people’s mental health services using openly available administrative and survey data. The Health Foundation 

The long goodbye? Exploring rates of staff leaving the NHS and social care

The long goodbye? Exploring rates of staff leaving the NHS and social care In this explainer, Billy Palmer and Lucina Rolewicz take stock of what is known and not known about the numbers of staff leaving NHS and social care roles, and the reasons given for moving on. Nuffield Trust 

NHS launches lifesaving campaign to tackle heart attack myths

NHS launches lifesaving campaign to tackle heart attack myths The NHS is launching a new lifesaving campaign to encourage people to dial 999 when they are having early signs of a heart attack.

Backed by celebrities including One Foot in the Grave actor Richard Wilson and Sky Sports presenter ‘Tubes’ – the campaign will tackle a number of common heart attack myths, after research identified that three in four people thought a heart attack was the same as a cardiac arrest. NHS England 

New national cervical screening campaign launches - as nearly 1 in 3 don’t take up screening offer

New national cervical screening campaign launches - as nearly 1 in 3 don’t take up screening offer A new national campaign is calling on those eligible not to ignore their invite, as data reveals nearly 1 in 3 don’t take up the offer of cervical screening. Department of Health and Social Care 

Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest

Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest Details of the variants of public health interest. UK Health Security Agency

See also: 

• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants: routine variant data update UK Health Security Agency
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

NHS hospital doctor arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

NHS hospital doctor arrested on suspicion of sexual assault Two NHS hospital trusts are working with police after a doctor was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

Staffordshire Police has launched a major incident review of the doctor's work at hospitals in Dudley, West Midlands, and Stoke-on-Trent, The Sunday Times reported. BBC News 

Latest Covid data shows where in UK infections are rising and falling

Latest Covid data shows where in UK infections are rising and falling Covid infections are rising across the South and East of England, but falling in the North, new figures show.

Around one in 19 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to 5 February, or 2.8 million people – up from one in 20 during the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said. The Independent

See also: 

• How fake news about Covid vaccine could be pushing return of MMR refuseniks The Daily Mail
• SAGE subgroup warn scrapping compulsory isolation and free testing will 'increase anxiety' The Daily Mail
• NHS Test and Trace to have budget cut by billions in 'living with Covid' plan The Daily Telegraph
• Early end to self-isolation rules risks 'serious impact' on NHS, doctors warn GPonline
• We got lucky with Omicron. Boris Johnson is rolling the dice again The Guardian
• Half of PPE procured by UK using ‘VIP’ companies has not been used The Guardian
• Plan to jab children aged 5-11 delayed amid No 10 and JCVI impasse The Guardian
• ‘I’m deeply concerned’: workers on plans to end all Covid rules in England The Guardian

'Stretching' NHS targets not enough to stop waiting lists rising, warns health service leader

'Stretching' NHS targets not enough to stop waiting lists rising, warns health service leader NHS waiting lists are likely to continue growing for longer than government ministers have suggested, even if trusts meet their “very stretching” targets to tackle the backlog of treatment which has built up during the Covid pandemic, a health service boss has warned. The Independent 

Radical action needed to tackle racial health inequality in NHS, says damning report

Radical action needed to tackle racial health inequality in NHS, says damning report Radical action is needed urgently to tackle “overwhelming” minority ethnic health inequalities in the NHS, leading experts have said, after a damning study found the “vast” and “widespread” inequity in every aspect of healthcare it reviewed was harming the health of millions of patients. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS race review should be cue to finally tackle health inequalities The Guardian

NHS staffing levels are at crisis point, so why isn’t it allowed to plan for the future?

NHS staffing levels are at crisis point, so why isn’t it allowed to plan for the future? | Andrew Goddard No organisation operates without knowing its workforce needs, but the government is keeping the health service in the dark.

Last week, the delivery plan for tackling the Covid-19 backlog of elective care was published with a clear recognition that “to succeed we have to grow and support our workforce”. While the number of patients waiting for care has risen to 6 million, we mustn’t forget that this figure was an eye-watering 4.4 million before the pandemic had even begun. We in the NHS have long known that staffing numbers have been the limiting factor in keeping up with ever-growing patient need and demand. The Guardian 

Three jabs a year of new NHS drug could save eyesight in 800,000 Brits, experts say

Three jabs a year of new NHS drug could save eyesight in 800,000 Brits, experts say Two eye conditions that cause blindness can be treated with a breakthrough drug that dramatically slows the loss of vision.

The medication, faricimab, could soon be offered to people with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in over-60s, and to sufferers of diabetic macular oedema, an eye problem linked to diabetes. The Daily Mail 

Schools focus on Mental Health Awareness Day as survey shows more than half of Northamptonshire youngsters experienced depression

Schools focus on Mental Health Awareness Day as survey shows more than half of Northamptonshire youngsters experienced depression Health chiefs in Northamptonshire are focusing on young people on Mental Health Awareness Day after surveys revealed more than half have experienced depression.

A recent survey undertaken by the county's Talk Out Loud programme showed 46 percent of youngsters believe society does not understand their mental health needs. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Six Northampton neighbourhoods where Covid case rates are falling and six more where they're not

Six Northampton neighbourhoods where Covid case rates are falling and six more where they're not The PM said on Wednesday he that expects anybody testing positive would no longer need to self-isolate from sometime just after February 21 'providing the current encouraging trends in the data continue.'

Those 'encouraging trends' in and around Northampton have seen falls in Covid case rates in 25 out of the 31 neighbourhoods in the last week of official data with drops of up to a third.

Yet there are still more than 3,000 people stuck indoors after testing positive and case rates remain higher than the national and regional average, according to figures on an interactive map which reflects official data for the locality where you live. Northampton Chronicle and Echo