Engaging young people in health services research and design: key constructs and ethical challenges

Engaging young people in health services research and design: key constructs and ethical challenges This scoping review differentiates and maps the range of ways in which the sector is involving young people in health service research and development, identify key concepts and definitions in the literature and highlight governance issues and contradictions arising from the range of approaches. There is also an associated briefing paper. Association for Young People’s Health

Life-extending injection for blood cancer available on the NHS

Life-extending injection for blood cancer available on the NHS A life-extending injection for a fatal form of blood cancer will be available to around 350 patients per year in England, the NHS chief executive has announced.

The drug, which can extend the lives of patients with a recurring and incurable cancer of the bone marrow cells – known as multiple myeloma – by an average of nine months, has been given the green light for routine use by NICE after it was made available for a limited period through the Cancer Drugs Fund. NHS England

Pregnant women should be asked how much they drink

Pregnant women should be asked how much they drink Pregnant women should be asked how much alcohol they are drinking and the answer recorded in their medical notes, new "priority advice" for the NHS says.

The advice, from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is designed to help spot problem drinking that can harm babies. BBC News

How concerning is it that Covid infections are rising in the UK?

How concerning is it that Covid infections are rising in the UK? Covid infection levels in the UK on are on the rise once more. We take a look at the current situation, and what the future might hold. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid in Scotland: Mask rules will stay in force until April BBC News
• UK's Covid cases jump by 77% in a week to soar past 100,000 The Daily Mail
• Wilko apologises after telling staff who test positive for Covid to come to work The Daily Mail
• Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is just as contagious as MEASLES The Daily Mail
• Covid hospital admissions are surging again – is this the start of a new wave? The Daily Telegraph
• GPs under growing pressure as spike in COVID-19 cases hits workforce GPonline
• Lateral flow tests could cost care home visitors £73 a month The Guardian
• More than 1000 NHS jobs at risk as Lighthouse Covid-testing labs to close The Independent
• Scientists link ‘severe’ Covid-19 to long-term mental health problems The Independent

791 medical graduates could miss out on NHS junior doctor training

791 medical graduates could miss out on NHS junior doctor training Almost 800 medical graduates could be denied the chance to train as doctors in the NHS this year, despite the health service’s crippling shortage of medics.

A total of 791 medical undergraduates who have applied to start training as junior doctors at the start of August have been told there are no places for them – the highest number ever. The Guardian

See also:

• All medical graduates should be guaranteed foundation places BMA
• National Allocation Update 2022 UK Foundation Programme

Medical regulator revamps its guideline 'bible' with goal of eradicating bullying

Medical regulator revamps its guideline 'bible' with goal of eradicating bullying The doctors' 'bible' is being updated to tackle bullying and sexual harassment on wards following a spate of scandals.

It is the first time General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines have changed in nearly a decade and comes as the NHS tries to improve staff retention.

The new framework will put emphasis on behaviour at work, such as 'challenging conduct that could be considered harassment, discrimination or bullying'. The Daily Mail

Homeopathy benefits have been 'substantially over-estimated' by weak scientific trials, experts say

Homeopathy benefits have been 'substantially over-estimated' by weak scientific trials, experts say Benefits of homeopathy may have been 'substantially overestimated', researchers insisted today. 

The 200-year-old 'treatment' has repeatedly been proven to be no more effective than a placebo. 

But now a new analysis has dented its reputation even further, poking more holes in the current body of evidence surrounding the controversial practice. The Daily Mail

 

See also:

• Assessing the magnitude of reporting bias in trials of homeopathy: a cross-sectional study and meta-analysis (open access) BMJ Evidence -Based Medicine

Charities fear mental health crisis after 300-plus youngsters admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals after self-harming last year

Charities fear mental health crisis after 300-plus youngsters admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals after self-harming last year Charities fear a mental health crisis among youngsters after figures revealed more than 300 were admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals after intentionally poisoning themselves or self-harming last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

A women’s health agenda: redressing the balance

A women’s health agenda: redressing the balance This report highlights the importance of embracing a culture of change in the design and delivery of women’s health to achieve national systems and local services fit to meet the expectations and needs of the 21st century woman. It describes the many failings of health services across the world whose default position is to treat women as second-class citizens and place unnecessary barriers to the delivery of high-quality accessible care. The report sets out recommendations, founded on common sense and rooted in the belief that women should be in control of their own bodies. Public Policy Projects

Equality, diversity and inclusion: targets, progress and priorities for 2022

Equality, diversity and inclusion: targets, progress and priorities for 2022 The GMC has published its first update on progress towards the equality, diversity and inclusion targets it set last year. The report shows: the gap between employer referral rates for ethnic minority doctors and international medical graduates, compared to white doctors, has reduced slightly; fairness measures for medical education and training remain at similar levels; as an employer, the GMC has improved ethnic minority workforce representation at all levels and progression rates for ethnic minority staff. General Medical Council

Race 2.0: time for real change

Race 2.0: time for real change This report (also available in an alternative format) highlights the scale and scope of the challenge to improve racial equality across the NHS, alongside the commitment of boards, trust leaders and NHS Providers to drive real change in this area. The report sets out trust leaders' views on what constitutes good practice. Ten key priorities were identified, including: building closer engagement with staff and community networks, fostering safe spaces, better education, focusing on personal values and behaviours, and openly challenging discrimination. But despite this good practice, the new report also found just four per cent of trust leaders said race equality was fully embedded as part of their board’s business. NHS Providers 

All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK

All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK The government will remove the remaining COVID-19 international travel restrictions for all passengers from 4am Friday 18 March. Department of Health and Social Care 

NHS struggling with 'long tail' of pandemic mental ill health

NHS struggling with 'long tail' of pandemic mental ill health The number of referrals for specialist NHS mental health care reached a record high in England by the end of 2021, an analysis suggests.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists says the pandemic has led to unprecedented demand and backlogs and services are struggling to keep up.

There were 4.3 million referrals, for conditions such as anxiety and depression, in 2021, NHS Digital says. BBC News

See also: 

• Mental health toll of lockdown shown as services received record 4.3 MILLION referrals in 2021 The Daily Mail

Number of Covid-positive patients in English hospitals hits 10000

Number of Covid-positive patients in English hospitals hits 10000 The number of Covid-positive patients in English NHS hospitals has hit more than 10,000 for the first time since mid-February, as admissions continue to increase and pressures on emergency services worsen.

On Monday the NHS recorded 10,576 patients in its hospital beds, as figures rose by 18 per cent week on week. The Independent

See also:

• Covid in Scotland: Omicron sub-variant driving increase case numbers BBC News
• China: Businesses shut as officials widen Covid lockdowns BBC News
• Did Covid testing REALLY cost £2bn a month? The Daily Mail
• NHS hospitals are continuing to bar virtually all relatives over Covid concerns The Daily Mail
• All Covid travel restrictions to be scrapped in boost for Easter holidays The Daily Telegraph
• The Guardian view on rising rates of Covid: there’s no plan beyond vaccines | Editorial The Guardian
• Hospitals ease visiting restrictions despite Covid uptick The Independent

NHS trust to stop filming mental health patients in their bedrooms

NHS trust to stop filming mental health patients in their bedrooms An NHS trust has ended the use of a monitoring system that continuously records video of mental health patients in their bedrooms amid concerns it allows trauma to resurface in sexually abused women.

Camden and Islington NHS foundation trust (C&I) discontinued use of the Oxevision system after female patients and staff warned that it undermined the care of victims of sexual abuse and assault. The Guardian 

Welsh solar farm exceeds expectations in powering Swansea hospital

Welsh solar farm exceeds expectations in powering Swansea hospital The UK’s first solar farm owned by a health board and linked directly to a hospital has exceeded expectations by, at times, providing all the electricity needed to run the site, even during the winter months.

Health chiefs and Welsh government ministers had hoped the solar farm in south-west Wales would supply Morriston hospital in Swansea with a fifth of its energy consumption every year. The Guardian 

Why 10,000 steps a day is NOT holy grail: Study finds 6,000-8,000 cuts risk of early death in HALF

Why 10,000 steps a day is NOT holy grail: Study finds 6,000-8,000 cuts risk of early death in HALF Ten thousand daily steps is not the sweet spot for health, according to a study that suggests just 6,000 is enough.

American researchers have found that getting between 6,000 and 8,000 steps each day reduces the risk of an early death for people over the age of 60 by up to 54 per cent. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts (open access) The Lancet Public Health

Northamptonshire health boss received Covid-related hate mail

Northamptonshire health boss received Covid-related hate mail A public health director has revealed how she received hate mail and had her address placed on a police watch list as she worked to tackle Covid-19.

Lucy Wightman was speaking ahead of leaving her Northamptonshire role for a similar job at Essex County Council.

Ms Wightman has faced high profile Covid challenges including an Omicron outbreak and a factory closure after hundreds of workers tested positive. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Scammers 'smishing' with fake NHS Covid texts cost Northamptonshire people £500,000 in two months Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Covid's not gone away' warning from health chiefs as deaths, hospital cases and positive tests rise in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Thrill seekers invited to abseil down the colossal Northampton Lift Tower in aid of NHS

Thrill seekers invited to abseil down the colossal Northampton Lift Tower in aid of NHS Tackle the iconic Northampton Lift Tower and raise money for a ward of your choice at Northampton General Hospital or Kettering General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

One-third of A&E patients waited more than four hours for treatment at Northampton General Hospital last month

One-third of A&E patients waited more than four hours for treatment at Northampton General Hospital last month More A&E patients had to wait longer to be seen at Northampton General Hospital last month despite fewer people going through the doors. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS Performance Summary: January–February 2022

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

See also:

• Why is the NHS really under 'record pressure'? The Health Foundation
• Analysis: March release of NHS performance statistics NHS Confederation
• A move in the wrong direction for Covid-19 threatens NHS recovery plans Nuffield Trust
• NHS waiting times for cancer care in England now longest on record The Guardian

Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: interim report

Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: interim report This interim report represents the work of the independent review of NHS gender identity services for children and young people to date. It does not set out final recommendations - these will be developed over the coming months, informed by a formal research programme. The role of this review is to consider how to improve and develop the future clinical approach and service model. It finds that the rapid increase in the number of children requiring support and the complex case-mix means that the current clinical model, with a single national provider, is not sustainable in the longer term. It uncovers a lack of routine and consistent data collection as well as an absence of consensus and open discussion about the nature of gender dysphoria and therefore about the appropriate clinical response. The Cass Review

See also:

• Children's gender services need transformation - review BBC News
• NHS gender identity service for children can’t cope with demand, review finds The Guardian

Virtual wards

Virtual wards This report discusses virtual wards, an innovation due to be implemented at scale in the NHS as a method of addressing patient waiting lists. With the help of remote treatment options and supported by technology, patients are monitored and cared for, in their own homes. The report lists the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Institute of Health and Social Care Management

The Covid-19 vaccination programme: what comes next?

The Covid-19 vaccination programme: what comes next? Well, there’s a first. Not quite literally. Given what it does, it is incredibly rare for the National Audit Office (NAO) to judge that a government programme has been value for money.

But that is the NAO’s verdict on the Covid-19 vaccination programme in England, complete with a warning that the challenges are far from over. The King's Fund

One hundred million cases in one hundred week: working towards better Covid-19 outcomes in the WHO European Region

One hundred million cases in one hundred week: working towards better Covid-19 outcomes in the WHO European Region This report showcases the work of WHO/Europe’s Covid-19 Incident Management Support Team (IMST) – the mechanism activated to deal with emergency situations – from its establishment in early 2020, as the first cases of Covid-19 were being detected in the European Region, to 2022. It also includes insights into the work of the operational teams during this time as they supported some of the Region’s Member States in dealing with the challenges of a global pandemic. It details the work and the impact of its Covid-19 responses across various functions, including surveillance, public health and social measures, risk communication and community engagement, clinical and health interventions, essential health services, and vaccines. World Health Organization Europe

Policy paper: Changes to member contributions in the NHS Pension Scheme

Policy paper: Changes to member contributions in the NHS Pension Scheme The report sets out why the Department of Health and Social Care proposes to make regulations to amend the amount that members contribute to the NHS Pension Scheme.

See also:

• Consultation outcome: NHS Pension Scheme: proposed continuation of temporary easements Department of Health and Social Care

Ukrainian children brought to England for cancer treatment

Ukrainian children brought to England for cancer treatment 21 Ukrainian children will receive lifesaving cancer treatment in England after being brought over by the UK government with the support of Polish authorities and clinicians. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 11 March 2022

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 11 March 2022 In England, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) increased in the week ending 5 March 2022; we estimate that 2,073,900 people in England had COVID-19 (95% credible interval 1,992,700 to 2,155,900), equating to 3.80% of the population or around 1 in 25 people. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• NHS booster bookings open for most vulnerable 12 to 15 year olds NHS England
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights Office for National Statistics
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants: technical briefings UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

Covid infections rising again across UK - ONS

Covid infections rising again across UK - ONS Covid infections are increasing across the UK with about one in 25 people infected, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A sub-variant of Omicron, called BA.2, is now thought to be the most common strain in most of the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Covid inquiry's public hearings to begin in 2023 BBC News
• Covid deaths probably three times higher than records say BBC News
• Zoe Covid-tracking app loses government funding BBC News
• UK Covid inquiry draft terms of reference set out BBC News
• NHS chiefs mount last ditch attempt to stop Boris Johnson's bonfire of Covid rules The Daily Mail
• Pfizer vaccine reduces risk of Covid infection for children aged 5 to 11 by 31%, CDC report finds The Daily Mail
• 'Deltacron' is NOT outcompeting any Covid strain yet The Daily Mail
• No10's Covid inquiry will probe if NHS's lack of capacity was to blame for lockdown The Daily Mail
• Covid has slipped from the headlines – but with restrictions eased, cases are rising The Guardian
• WHO Foundation chief ‘very concerned’ over UK dismantling Covid testing as pandemic ‘isn’t over’ The Independent
• Crack on' with fourth Covid jab early for over-75s and vulnerable GPs told as hospital admissions rise iNews

Reproductive coercion: 'I wasn't allowed to take my pill'

Reproductive coercion: 'I wasn't allowed to take my pill' Reproductive coercion is a lesser-known type of abuse. It's when someone uses pregnancy, contraception and sex to control a person.

Examples vary, but can include forcing someone to have an abortion they don't want, damaging or hiding contraceptives and pressurising someone not to use condoms.

To find out how common it is, the BBC commissioned a survey of 1,000 UK women aged 18-44 - and found that 50% said they had experienced at least one type of reproductive coercion. BBC News

Rosacea: 'Your skin doesn't define you'

Rosacea: 'Your skin doesn't define you' Rosacea is a common but misunderstood condition that is thought to affect millions. It is incurable, and those who have it must often endure a sustained treatment regime, restrictions on what they eat, drink and do and, in some cases, judgements or jibes from others. But a growing community and statements from high-profile sufferers have shown that they are not alone. BBC News

Would-be paramedics hit with £27,500 bill to retrain for vital service

Would-be paramedics hit with £27,500 bill to retrain for vital service Professionals who want to retrain as paramedics are facing tough financial decisions after discovering they are barred from government funding.

Many who were inspired by the pandemic to join the NHS say they are being treated as second-class applicants because an outdated policy has excluded them from loans and grants available to almost all other mature healthcare students. The Guardian

All 400,000 type 1 diabetic Britons to be offered high-tech implant

All 400,000 type 1 diabetic Britons to be offered high-tech implant All 400,000 Britons with type 1 diabetes will soon be offered a high-tech implant that monitors their blood sugar level in real time, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The small gadget had been restricted by the NHS because of cost, and made available only to those most in need. The Daily Mail 

Northamptonshire to commemorate Covid-19 victims two years on

Northamptonshire to commemorate Covid-19 victims two years on Northamptonshire is set to mark two years since the start of the pandemic by holding a remembrance service for all who have lost their lives to coronavirus.

West and North Northamptonshire Councils are joining together in leading a service to mark the national Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection at Abington Park.

It will take place at 10.45am on Thursday, March 17. Northants Live

Nursing Narratives: Racism and the Pandemic

Nursing Narratives: Racism and the Pandemic Black, Brown and migrant health workers make a critical contribution to the NHS and social care. The current coronavirus outbreak has laid bare structural  inequalities and disproportionately affected racialised minorities, including health care workers.

The study collected stories of the working lives of Black and Brown staff and asked them to reflect on their experiences and advocate the changes they would like to see. It confirms previous studies that identify the entrenched nature of racism in health care systems, structures, processes and the writing of history. Nursing Narratives

See also:

• NHS nurse told her job 'beats being a slave' as health staff reveal racism from colleagues iNews
• Black and ethnic minority nurses ‘facing entrenched racism and worsening harassment’ in the NHS Metro

Together We Can Revolutionise The NHS, Through Individual Responsibility

Together We Can Revolutionise The NHS, Through Individual Responsibility Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the Health and Social Care Secretary sets out his plans for NHS reform. Department of Health and Social Care

Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on: Government response to the Committee’s first report

Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on: Government response to the Committee’s first report The original report, Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on, was published in October 2021, and followed the Committee’s inquiry and first report in 2020 into the impact of Covid-19 on new parents. In July 2021, a year on from the publication of its first report, the Committee took further evidence from campaigners and experts to assess progress against the recommendations made in the report. The Government’s response points to the £500 million investment announced in the 2021 Autumn Spending Review for family and early years services. This report concludes that this goes some way to addressing the ‘baby blind spot’ in Covid-19 recovery spending identified in the Committee’s report but the response contains no new commitments in response to the concerns raised and recommendations made in the report. House of Commons Petitions Committee

COVID-19 prevalence continues to decline across England but infection rates remain high

COVID-19 prevalence continues to decline across England but infection rates remain high Findings from the latest report of the government-backed REACT-1, one of the largest studies into coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in England. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Independent report: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: February 2022, final results UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers UK Health Security Agency

Covid pandemic is not over, expert warns as hospital admissions rise

Covid pandemic is not over, expert warns as hospital admissions rise The Covid pandemic is not over, an expert has warned, after a rise in hospital admissions and infections in older age groups.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, sounded the alarm following the emergence of a more transmissible Omicron sub-variant. The Independent

See also:

• Covid UK: Cases rise 50 PER CENT in a week as hospitalisations and deaths creep up The Daily Mail
• Risk of another pandemic is HIGH, Chris Whitty warns The Daily Mail
• Plasma treatments used against COVID-19 early in the pandemic found to have done little The Daily Mail
• Pfizer begins Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for drug Paxlovid in children aged six to 17 years old The Daily Mail
• Covid Australia: Deadly mutant Omicron strain in Hong Kong hits Australia The Daily Mail
• UK Covid cases rising among those aged 55 and over The Guardian 
• Covid treatment sotrovimab can cause drug-resistant mutation, study finds The Guardian
• CDC warns of alarming surge in Covid Omicron sub-variant in New York City as mandates lifted The Independent
• Covid hospital admissions rising across the UK ‘likely due to waning immunity among older people’ iNews
• Deltacron Covid hybrid variant: Person-to-person transmission identified in UK, but cases remain low iNews
• World must roll out jab for next pandemic virus in just 100 days, scientist behind Oxford COVID vaccine says Sky News

I had an abortion – and my experience shows how broken the UK system truly is

I had an abortion – and my experience shows how broken the UK system truly is When she found out she was pregnant, Maya Oppenheim knew that, like thousands of women, she could face difficulties trying to have a termination. But what she discovered were problems at every stage of a process that experts warn is at breaking point. The Independent

Councils and NHS trusts battle to break off contracts with Gazprom Energy over Ukraine

Councils and NHS trusts battle to break off contracts with Gazprom Energy over Ukraine Local councils, NHS trusts and public bodies are battling to end energy supply deals with Russian state oil giant Gazprom’s arms-length UK subsidiary.

Gazprom Energy, which bills itself as “one of the UK’s leading business energy suppliers”, is owned by Gazprom Marketing & Trading Retail Ltds, ultimately a subsidiary of state firm PAO Gazprom. iNews

Man given genetically modified pig heart dies

Man given genetically modified pig heart dies The first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig has died.

David Bennett, who had terminal heart disease, survived for two months following the surgery in the US. BBC News

Health Education England's NHS AI roadmap aims to prepare workforce

Health Education England's NHS AI roadmap aims to prepare workforce Health Education England (HEE) has published the first roadmap into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the NHS and its impact on the workforce, with the aim of preparing for the future.

The report, which expands on the Topol Review, looks into the use of AI and data-driven technologies that currently exist in the healthcare system, the uptake of these new technologies and the impact so far on the workforce. Digital Health

Families ‘frustrated’ at delay in publication of maternity scandal report

Families ‘frustrated’ at delay in publication of maternity scandal report Families have voiced “huge frustration” after publication of the final report into the biggest maternity scandal in the NHS was delayed for a second time.

The Ockenden review investigated 1,862 maternity cases at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS trust in which mothers and babies may have been harmed over almost 20 years, and was due to be published on 22 March, having been delayed from December. The Guardian

Northampton nurse gives advice for veterans 'triggered' by war in Ukraine and 'upsetting images'

Northampton nurse gives advice for veterans 'triggered' by war in Ukraine and 'upsetting images' A top mental health nurse from Northampton has issued advice to ex-service personnel who may be struggling with “triggering” thoughts after watching the Ukraine crisis unfold. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Clinical commissioning groups: transferring the legacy into learning

Clinical commissioning groups: transferring the legacy into learning This report sets out reflections from clinical commissioning groups and eleven recommendations for integrated care systems (ICS) leaders to help them learn from this legacy. NHS Confederation

Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary speech on Health Reform

Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary speech on Health Reform Sajid Javid delivered a speech on healthcare reform at the Royal College of Physicians, London. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Build Back Better: Our Plan for Health and Social Care Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS recovery plan will prove impossible if chronic workforce crisis isn’t addressed BMA
• More choice over NHS services no replacement for having staff and capacity to deliver them The Health Foundation
• LGA responds to new NHS reform plan Local Government Association
• New ideas alone won’t be able to magic up new staff NHS Confederation
• NHS workforce planning critical to delivering reform agenda NHS Providers
• Javid calls on families to help NHS by pushing loved ones to improve health The Guardian
• Plans to tackle NHS workforce shortages to be published this year - but with no additional funding The Independent
• People urged to use NHS app instead of calling GPs The Independent
• Patients on waiting lists for two years can move hospital or get private care, Sajid Javid promises iNews

Shropshire baby deaths: Ockenden report delayed for second time

Shropshire baby deaths: Ockenden report delayed for second time The publication of a report into failures of maternity care at an NHS trust has been delayed again.

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden has been investigating hundreds of cases in which mothers and babies may have been harmed at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTh). BBC News

Stool tests might help spot early pancreatic cancer

Stool tests might help spot early pancreatic cancer tool tests might provide a useful way to help doctors spot early pancreatic cancer, say researchers.

They have been trialling the concept in a study with 136 volunteers.

The findings, described in the journal Gut, suggest detectable changes involving gut bugs could provide a warning sign that a tumour is present. BBC News

See also:

• A faecal microbiota signature with high specificity for pancreatic cancer (open access) BMJ

Twin thought to be UK's most premature to survive goes home

Twin thought to be UK's most premature to survive goes home One of two twins thought to be the most premature to survive in the UK is home.

Harry and Harley Crane were born at 22 weeks and five days on 26 October 2021 at a Nottingham hospital.

After almost five months in intensive care, Harry - who now weighs 6lb - has been discharged with his sister expected to follow this week. BBC News

Daily Covid cases surge 60% in a week to 61,900 in biggest rise since Freedom Day

Daily Covid cases surge 60% in a week to 61,900 in biggest rise since Freedom Day Government dashboard data showed there were 61,900 new positive tests over the last 24 hours, up 58.7 per cent on last week's figure of 39,000. There were also a further 212 deaths. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Critical care Covid patients in Wales in single figures BBC News
• Covid England: Hospital admissions in South West now HIGHER than at peak of Omicron crisis The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 weekly deaths in England and Wales fall to half of Omicron peak The Independent

UK Department of Health wants to burn 580 LORRIES' worth of unused PPE a month to make electricity

UK Department of Health wants to burn 580 LORRIES' worth of unused PPE a month to make electricity Ministers want to burn nearly 600 lorries' worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) per month to generate electricity.

Department of Health bosses told MPs today they have a radical plan to avoid wasting 5.5billion pieces of faulty or excess PPE bought during the pandemic. The Daily Mail

American baby makes medical history by becoming first person ever to receive a new heart AND thymus

American baby makes medical history by becoming first person ever to receive a new heart AND thymus A baby has become the first person in the world to receive a combined heart and thymus transplant — offering hope to millions of patients.

Easton Sinnamon was born with a weak heart and immune system and spent his first seven months in hospital. The Daily Mail 

See also:

• Revolutionary heart-thymus combined transplant success BBC News

New trial blood test to detect cancers early arrives in Northamptonshire

New trial blood test to detect cancers early arrives in Northamptonshire A new trial blood test to detect cancers before symptoms appear has arrived in Northamptonshire.

Selected residents aged between 50 and 77 in Northampton and Wellingborough are being invited to take part in the trial at a mobile clinic that will be in the county until the end of the month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The economic case for investing in the prevention of mental health conditions in the UK

The economic case for investing in the prevention of mental health conditions in the UK This report estimates that mental health problems cost the UK economy at least £117.9 billion annually in 2019 — approximately five per cent of the UK’s GDP. Almost three quarters of the cost (72 per cent) is due to the lost productivity of people living with mental health conditions and costs incurred by unpaid informal carers who take on a great deal of responsibility in providing mental health support in our communities. The report, produced together with the London School of Economics and Political Science, makes the case for a prevention-based approach to mental health which would both improve mental wellbeing while reducing the economic costs of poor mental health. Mental Health Foundation

NHS treating record number of young people for eating disorders

NHS treating record number of young people for eating disorders More young people than ever before are receiving treatment for eating disorders according to the latest figures, the NHS said today.

Almost 10,000 children and young people started treatment between April and December with record demand for services – an increase of a quarter compared to the same period last year and up by almost two thirds since before the pandemic. NHS England

Policy paper: Joint statement on delivering the 100 Days Mission

Policy paper: Joint statement on delivering the 100 Days Mission This joint statement between UK government, CEPI and Industry Associations commits to taking forward specific steps needed for future pandemic preparedness. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers UK Health Security Agency

Covid vaccines not linked to deaths, major US study finds

Covid vaccines not linked to deaths, major US study finds A major study of vaccine side-effects in the US found no link between two Covid jabs and the number of deaths recorded after vaccination.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 92% of reported side-effects after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were mild. BBC News

See also:

• Safety of mRNA vaccines administered during the initial 6 months of the US COVID-19 vaccination programme: an observational study of reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and v-safe (open access) The Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Scans reveal how Covid may change the brain BBC News
• SARS-CoV-2 is associated with changes in brain structure in UK Biobank (open acess) Nature
• Covid UK: 126,605 cases recorded in last three days as outbreak rebounds 54% in a week The Daily Mail
• Nearly 30MILLION people in England have dodged Covid The Daily Mail
• Global Covid death toll reaches 6 MILLION: US leads the world with 950,000 deaths The Daily Mail
• UK government may have bought 3bn PPE gloves made by forced labour The Guardian
• Covid pandemic sparks steep rise in number of people in UK with long-term illness The Guardian

International Women's Day: UTI testing '50 years out of date'

International Women's Day: UTI testing '50 years out of date' A painful infection that mainly affects women is too often dismissed as "women's problems".

One in every two women suffer a urinary tract infection (UTI) and they are the second most common infection globally. BBC News

NHS experts seek proof new A&E standards will improve patient care

NHS experts seek proof new A&E standards will improve patient care Leading experts have asked NHS England for proof that new A&E measures – set to replace the four-hour waiting times target – will improve patient care.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), Nuffield Trust and King’s Fund have all expressed concern that data from pilot studies in 14 NHS trusts has not been made public. The Independent

Dozens of NHS surgeries are owned by foreign companies raising fears of backdoor privatisation

Dozens of NHS surgeries are owned by foreign companies raising fears of backdoor privatisation Analysis by i of more than 90,000 properties owned by overseas companies – from car parks to luxury homes – shows that the titles on nearly 100 primary care buildings in England are held by private firms registered in tax havens. iNews

NHS: Video appointments with GPs offer 'minimal' benefits, study suggests

NHS: Video appointments with GPs offer 'minimal' benefits, study suggests Video appointments with GPs offer "minimal" benefits, a study has suggested.

Researchers at the University of Oxford set out to examine why just 0.5% of GP appointments in England are held on video, according to the latest figures. Sky News

See also:

• Why do GPs rarely do video consultations? qualitative study in UK general practice (open access) British Journal of General Practice

Government to set out NHS reforms for patients to benefit from improved and personalised care

Government to set out NHS reforms for patients to benefit from improved and personalised care Health Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to set out reforms including giving patients more choice if waiting times are long, expanding personalised care and health budgets, and the increased use of the NHS app. Sky News

See also:

• General practice must sit at the heart of NHS reform plans Nuffield Trust
• NHS to pay for patients' taxis and hotels if they go to hospitals away from their home The Daily Telegraph
• Sajid Javid to unveil his new vision for NHS reform Digital Health
• Private hospitals offered for NHS patients waiting too long The Independent

Temperature-related deaths will increase by 42% in England and Wales if temperatures rise by 3.6°F

Temperature-related deaths will increase by 42% in England and Wales if temperatures rise by 3.6°F Deaths linked to extreme temperatures will increase by up to 42 per cent in England and Wales if temperatures rise by just 3.6°F (2°C), a new study has warned.

This means an increase from around 117 deaths per day, averaged across the 10 hottest days of the year, to around 166 deaths per day, according to the team from UCL and the University of Reading. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Non-linear response of temperature-related mortality risk to global warming in England and Wales (open access) Environmental Research Letters
• Higher risk of temperature-related death if global warming exceeds 2°C University College London

Tens of thousands of Northamptonshire women are missing 'vital' breast cancer screenings

Tens of thousands of Northamptonshire women are missing 'vital' breast cancer screenings Tens of thousands of Northamptonshire women were not up to date with potentially life-saving breast cancer checks last year, figures show.

Charities say an "alarming" drop in screenings across England is a reminder of the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on cancer care and diagnosis. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Damning report rates Corby Urgent Care Centre as INADEQUATE

Damning report rates Corby Urgent Care Centre as INADEQUATE Long waiting times, inadequate staffing levels, an ineffective triage system and worries over the care of children.

That's the scathing verdict of inspectors from the Government's health regulator who have rated Corby Urgent Care Centre (UCC) as inadequate in the their latest inspection report. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Corby Urgent Care Centre Care Quality Commission
• Locals bite back over 'godsend' Corby urgent care centre's inadequate inspection report Northamptonshire Telegraph

People cutting NHS staff some slack during Covid leads to drop in complaints at Northampton General Hospital

People cutting NHS staff some slack during Covid leads to drop in complaints at Northampton General Hospital NHS chiefs believe patients recognising pressure on NHS staff during the Covid-19 pandemic is behind a drop in complaints to Northampton General Hospital last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• People cutting NHS staff some slack during Covid leads to drop in complaints at Kettering General Hospital Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals invest in £1.7 million surgical robot to help patients recover quicker

Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals invest in £1.7 million surgical robot to help patients recover quicker A new £1.7 million surgical robot is being used for the first time across Northamptonshire this week.

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group – which runs Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals – has invested in the £1.7m surgical robot as part of its clinical strategy.

The robot is said to aid surgeons performing operations, by creating smaller wounds that heal faster. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Surgical robot with tentacle arms helping save lives in Northants Northants Live

The cap on care costs: what does the government proposal mean?

The cap on care costs: what does the government proposal mean? Later this month, peers and MPs will vote on a key change to the proposed social care cap. It’s a technical change, but one with a really profound impact on people. This blog attempts to set out as simply as possible what the change is, and why it matters. Put simply, it means that some people will still face what are, to them, catastrophic care costs and could need to sell their home to pay for care: people with lower levels of wealth, which disproportionately affects people in some geographies in the North and Midlands, and working-age adults with long-term disabilities. The King's Fund

A Racial Equity Framework for Assessing Health Policy

A Racial Equity Framework for Assessing Health Policy Public policy is a powerful determinant of racial inequity in health, but we lack tools for examining how the entire policymaking process impacts racial inequities.

The Racial Equity and Policy (REAP) framework provides a conceptually sound, empirically grounded basis for systematically assessing racial equity in health policy. The Commonwealth Fund

Government over halfway to delivering 50,000 more nurses by 2024

Government over halfway to delivering 50,000 more nurses by 2024 The government is on track to meet its manifesto commitment to deliver 50,000 more nurses in the NHS by 2024, with over 27,000 more nurses now working across the NHS.

A progress report published today shows that overall total nurse numbers now stand at 327,907, as of December 2021, compared to 300,904 in September 2019. Department of Health and Social Care

Guidance: The R value and growth rate

Guidance: The R value and growth rate The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19).

These estimates represent the transmission of COVID-19 2 to 3 weeks ago due to the time delay between someone being infected, developing symptoms, and needing healthcare.

There is increased uncertainty in both national and regional estimates at present, due to changes in testing policy, which make trends in data streams less clear. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Independent report: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: December 2021, final results UK Health Security Agency

UK Covid deaths plunge after all restrictions abandoned – but infections are creeping back up

UK Covid deaths plunge after all restrictions abandoned – but infections are creeping back up Coronavirus deaths in the UK have fallen since restrictions were lifted, but cases have started to creep back up.

Daily cases on Wednesday saw a week-on-week rise for the first time in a month. The Independent

See also:

• Covid in Scotland: Fourth jab rolled out for most vulnerable BBC News
• SAGE to stop meeting regularly in recognition that worst of Covid is over The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases soar 40% in first week after No10's 'Freedom Day' The Daily Mail
• Just 41% of people are now 'very worried' about Covid - lowest proportion since pandemic began The Daily Mail
• Why have some people never caught Covid? The answers could help protect us all The Guardian
• COVID-19 expert claims he was told to 'correct his views' after criticising 'implausible graph' shown during official briefing Sky News

NHS accused of racism as black nurses report being put in Covid areas

NHS accused of racism as black nurses report being put in Covid areas The NHS has been accused of “shocking and systemic” racism during the pandemic as black healthcare workers say they were given poor PPE and pushed into the Covid frontline first.

Hundreds of black and brown healthcare staff across the UK have spoken to academics at Sheffield Hallam University about their experiences of racism during the pandemic. The Independent

Revealed: scandal of NHS charges putting pregnant migrant women at risk

Revealed: scandal of NHS charges putting pregnant migrant women at risk The health of pregnant migrant women and their unborn babies is being put at risk due to fears around NHS charging, with some trusts demanding upfront fees for maternity care or wrongly charging those who are exempt, it has been claimed. The Guardian

See also: 

• Health and maternity care in a hostile environment Maternity Action

‘It’s a real-life Hunger Games’: a lifesaving drug costs $2m, but not every child can get it

‘It’s a real-life Hunger Games’: a lifesaving drug costs $2m, but not every child can get it Zolgensma is a revolutionary gene therapy that can stop a deadly childhood condition called SMA in its tracks. It’s also one of the most expensive drugs in the world. The Guardian

Alzheimer's deaths increased by more than a quarter in the first year of Covid pandemic

Alzheimer's deaths increased by more than a quarter in the first year of Covid pandemic Alzheimer's patient deaths increased by more than a quarter in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, a major study has found, as researchers suggest remote appointments were to blame. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• Trends in Mortality Rates Among Medicare Enrollees With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Before and During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic (open access) JAMA Neurology

Integrating additional roles into primary care networks

Integrating additional roles into primary care networks We found that PCNs are in their early stages of development and in many cases lack a clear, shared overall purpose and strategy or a clear, shared vision and buy-in for the ARRS roles. Many PCNs do not share a team identity, and this makes deploying network-wide staff in a supported way very complex when there are different strategies, different cultures and different identities to be managed. The King's Fund

At Your Service: A proposal to reform general practice and enable digital healthcare at scale

At Your Service: A proposal to reform general practice and enable digital healthcare at scale Policy Exchange has set out a pragmatic proposal for reform in a new report. Addressing issues around integration, workforce, digital transformation and scaled provision, we argue that a new model of general practice is required to better meet the needs of patients and the taxpayer – so it feels increasingly at their service.

Boosterism blinds us to the possible benefits of Brexit

Boosterism blinds us to the possible benefits of Brexit A recent report set out a range of benefits from Brexit across many areas of regulation, policy and spending, but on closer inspection do the sections relevant to health remind us that most of these advantages are hopes or goals rather than current reality? Nuffield Trust

Trans health matters: improving access to healthcare for trans and gender diverse Londoners

Trans health matters: improving access to healthcare for trans and gender diverse Londoners This report finds that trans and gender-diverse people can experience health inequalities and discrimination when accessing health care in the UK and that the experiences of trans and gender-diverse people when accessing general NHS services to meet their non-gender related health care needs is not as well-understood. The investigation heard examples of microaggressions, misgendering and using incorrect pronouns within the NHS and makes several recommendations for improving access to and experiences of health care. London Assembly

Hundreds of patients to benefit from revolutionary lung cancer drug on the NHS

Hundreds of patients to benefit from revolutionary lung cancer drug on the NHS A revolutionary targeted drug for lung cancer will be made available to anyone who is eligible, thanks to a new drug deal, the head of the NHS announced today.

Sotorasib targets a genetic mutation, dubbed the ‘death star’, by medics and scientists, and has been proven during trials to prevent lung cancer from growing for seven months. NHS England

Norovirus outbreaks increasing in England

Norovirus outbreaks increasing in England The UK Health Security Agency is reminding the public of simple actions that they can take to reduce the spread of norovirus. The advice comes after routine surveillance in England shows that the number of outbreaks caused by the vomiting bug has increased in recent weeks (4-week period from end January to February), initially in educational settings and now in care home settings.

See also:

• Statistical data set: National norovirus and rotavirus bulletins 2021 to 2022: management information UK Health Security Agency

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

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

See also:

• Research: COVID-19 therapeutic agents: technical briefings UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 9, 2021 to 2022) UK Health Security Agency

Another life-saving Covid drug identified

Another life-saving Covid drug identified UK experts say they have found another life-saving drug that can help people ill with Covid.

The anti-inflammatory baricitinib is normally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Trials suggest it can cut death risk by about a fifth in patients needing hospital care for severe Covid. BBC News

See also:

• Baricitinib in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial and updated meta-analysis (open access preprint) medRxiv
• New RECOVERY trial result: baricitinib reduces deaths in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 RECOVERY
• UK's daily Covid cases rise again: Infections jump 17% in a week to 45,656 The Daily Mail
• UK Covid deaths plunge after all restrictions abandoned – but infections are creeping back up The Independent
• COVID tests must remain free and self-isolation rules shouldn't be ditched, NHS leaders warn Sky News

Staffing crisis deepens in NHS England with 110,000 posts unfilled

Staffing crisis deepens in NHS England with 110,000 posts unfilled The NHS is facing a deepening staffing crisis, with the number of unfilled posts across health services in England rising to 110,192, official figures show.

The shortages include 39,652 nurses and 8,158 doctors, according to the latest quarterly data for health service vacancies published by NHS Digital. The Guardian 

See also:

• NHS Vacancy Statistics England April 2015 – December 2021 NHS Digital
• The King's Fund's response to the Health and Care Bill workforce vote in the House of Lords The King's Fund
• No escaping chronic workforce shortages NHS Confederation
• Boris Johnson suffers Lords defeat forcing Tories to reveal scale of NHS staffing crisis The Daily Mirror
• Government defeated over NHS workforce amendment to Health and Care Bill The Independent

Javid tells NHS to stop using Gazprom-supplied energy

Javid tells NHS to stop using Gazprom-supplied energy Sajid Javid has said the NHS in England must stop using energy supplied by the Russian-owned firm Gazprom.

A senior government source told the PA Media news agency that the health secretary has been in talks with NHS England (NHSE) over ending the contracts, which are reported by Politico to have been worth £16m in 2021. More than a dozen NHS trusts are thought to be supplied by Gazprom, alongside several local councils. The Guardian

NHS scraps free flu jabs for millions of people aged over 50 and secondary school children

NHS scraps free flu jabs for millions of people aged over 50 and secondary school children The NHS has scrapped free flu jabs for millions of people aged over 50 as the organisation chose to reverse its policy to pre-pandemic conditions.

Secondary school children aged 11 to 15 who were also eligible for the free shot won’t be offered one either. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Reimbursable vaccines and eligible cohorts for the 2022/23 NHS Seasonal Influenza (flu) Vaccination Programme NHS England
• NHS flu jabs for under-65s scrapped for 2022/23 campaign GPonline
• NHS scraps flu jabs for millions of over 50s and secondary school children The Independent

How will the NHS get to 'net zero'?

How will the NHS get to 'net zero'? Six ways the NHS is planning to reduce its carbon emissions, with analysis of draft green plans from NHS trusts. The Pharmaceutical Journal

Government U-turn on 'no jab, no job' rule for care workers as Covid deaths rise in Northamptonshire homes

Government U-turn on 'no jab, no job' rule for care workers as Covid deaths rise in Northamptonshire homes Ministers will press on with easing Covid rules for care homes despite more deaths linked to the virus in the county.

Latest Office for National Statistics data showed ten deaths in county care settings — nine in West Northamptonshire and one in the North — between February 6 and February 25. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Health system recovery from Covid-19: International lessons for the NHS

Health system recovery from Covid-19: International lessons for the NHS The challenges confronting the NHS in recovering from the pandemic are huge, with elective services that were scaled down during the worst of the crisis now with waiting lists of over 6 million patients. Yet worldwide, the pandemic has left even the most well-equipped health systems vulnerable. What approaches have other countries used to move towards recovery, and what might the NHS learn? This major new Nuffield Trust report looks across 16 different countries to gain an understanding of the recovery challenge worldwide.

Healthy life expectancy target: the scale of the challenge

Healthy life expectancy target: the scale of the challenge Previously published Health Foundation analysis estimated that it would take 75 years to reach five years of improvement in healthy life expectancy based on the trend for men between 2009–11 and 2015–17. The position has since deteriorated, meaning it would now take 192 years for men based on the trend between 2009–11 and 2017–19, the latest data which excludes the effects of the pandemic.

Improving staff retention: a guide for line managers and employers

Improving staff retention: a guide for line managers and employers This guidance supports line managers and employers to consider the key areas which affect workforce retention. It includes the enablers of retention, the organisational priorities which need to be in place to support employees and the practical interventions which directly impact on employees’ experience at work. It is aimed at anyone who has a responsibility for improving staff experience and morale, and reducing turnover in their organisation, including HR managers and line managers. NHS Employers

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£260 million to boost healthcare research and manufacturing

£260 million to boost healthcare research and manufacturing Up to £200 million committed to support NHS-led health research into diagnostics and treatment through new privacy-preserving platforms and clinical research services, and £60 million to help expand life sciences manufacturing in the UK. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain

Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain Indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey to understand the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on people, households and communities in Great Britain. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Changes in social contacts in England during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and March 2021 as measured by the CoMix survey: A repeated cross-sectional study (open access) PLOS Medicine
• Research: Consensus statements on COVID-19 UK Health Security Agency

Covid: How could the pandemic have affected your brain?

Covid: How could the pandemic have affected your brain? Memory loss, fatigue and trouble concentrating can be symptoms of having had coronavirus.

But scientists think people who haven't had Covid are also suffering increased tiredness, impaired decision-making and a lack of focus due to the pandemic.

Experts believe Covid uncertainty and disruption to routines have led to a phenomenon known as "pandemic brain". BBC News

See also:

• UK's Covid outbreak is GROWING: 11% rise in cases puts end to month of falling infections The Daily Mail
• Covid England: Scrapping free mass testing could delay detection of new variants, SAGE says The Daily Mail
• J&J vaccine recipients were FIVE TIMES as likely to be hospitalized with Covid as Pfizer recipients The Daily Mail
• Covid modelling cannot accurately predict numbers, admits government expert The Daily Telegraph
• Scientists seek to solve mystery of why some people do not catch Covid The Guardian
• The next variant: three key questions about what’s after Omicron Nature

More support needed for GPs to treat eating disorders

More support needed for GPs to treat eating disorders Two leading medical organisations have told the BBC that GPs are not getting the right support to treat eating disorders.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the British Medical Association (BMA) say doctors need more time with patients and more specialist units. BBC News

NHS ‘woefully unprepared’ for care of an ageing England

NHS ‘woefully unprepared’ for care of an ageing England The NHS is “flying blind” and “woefully unprepared” to cope with England’s rapidly ageing population, senior doctors have warned as stark new figures reveal the country has only one full-time geriatrician to care for every 8,000 older people.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said the drastic shortage of specially trained physicians to look after the rising number of elderly people and a lack of NHS workforce planning meant England was “sleepwalking into an avoidable crisis of care for older people”. The Guardian

NHS leaders act on hospital links to Russian energy suppliers

NHS leaders act on hospital links to Russian energy suppliers NHS leaders have asked hospitals to urgently confirm whether they are supplied by Russian owned energy company Gazprom, as pressure mounts for healthcare to ditch its links.

In a message seen by The Independent, NHS trusts were asked to confirm whether they are supplied by Gazprom and the end date of their contract.

Health and Care Bill to introduce new duties for NHS around climate change

Health and Care Bill to introduce new duties for NHS around climate change NHS organisations in England will be required to pay careful attention to climate change and the natural environment “in everything they do”, under an approved amendment to the Health and Care Bill. Nursing Times