Covid: Thousands of vaccinators get permanent NHS roles

Covid: Thousands of vaccinators get permanent NHS roles More than 10,000 people who signed up to help deliver Covid-19 vaccinations have now taken permanent roles with the NHS in England.

About 71,000 people took paid roles and thousands more volunteered to help with the programme which has now given more than 120 million doses. BBC News

See also:

• NHS chief praises thousands of vaccination staff staying in the health service NHS England
• Covid levels starting to fall in UK, says ONS BBC News
• 'Life without Covid rules is much worse than we thought' BBC News
• Valneva Covid vaccine approved for use in UK BBC News
• Global daily Covid deaths are now at their LOWEST point since pandemic took off The Daily Mail
• Covid disruption to NHS in England wreaks havoc with surgery backlog The Guardian
• Covid threat being ignored in England for ideological reasons, say NHS leaders The Guardian
• Thousands of long Covid patients feared to be missing out on disability benefits The Independent
• Covid nasal spray could replace vaccine jabs as scientists rethink fight against virus The Independent
• NHS staff at odds over calls for a return of Covid restrictions after A&E waits hit 12 hours in some areas iNews

Is a virus we all have causing multiple sclerosis?

Is a virus we all have causing multiple sclerosis? Nearly three million people around the world have multiple sclerosis. Scientists think they have now uncovered a mystery cause of this incurable disease. It is a virus that nearly every one of us can expect to catch. So what does it mean for treating and even preventing MS? BBC News

See also:

• Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis (open access) Science

Two new drugs to fight superbugs available on NHS soon

Two new drugs to fight superbugs available on NHS soon Two new medications which fight drug-resistant superbugs could soon become available to NHS patients in England.

Drugs' watchdog NICE says cefiderocol and ceftazidime with avibactam offer value for money and will save lives.

These 'last line of defence' drugs will tackle severe infections which cannot be cleared by other treatments. BBC News

Excess weight nearly doubles risk of womb cancer – study

Excess weight nearly doubles risk of womb cancer – study Excess weight almost doubles a woman’s risk of developing womb cancer, new research suggests.

The Cancer Research UK-funded study found that for every five extra body mass index (BMI) units – the equivalent of a 5ft 5in tall adult woman being two stones heavier – the risk increased by 88%. The Independent

See also:

• Identifying molecular mediators of the relationship between body mass index and endometrial cancer risk: a Mendelian randomization analysis (open access) BMC Medicine

Medical regulator faces questions over board members’ links to drug firms

Medical regulator faces questions over board members’ links to drug firms The UK medicines watchdog has been urged to strengthen its conflict of interest policy after it emerged that six of its board members are receiving payments from the pharmaceutical industry.

Board members involved in overseeing the regulator’s “strategic direction” also have financial interests in companies including US and Saudi drug giants and firms with ambitions to break into the UK’s healthcare market. The Guardian

‘Brutalised and burnt out’ NHS hospital staff take 8m mental health sick days in five years

‘Brutalised and burnt out’ NHS hospital staff take 8m mental health sick days in five years Staff shortages, treatment backlogs and the pandemic have contributed to hospital doctors and nurses taking almost 23,000 years off with mental health problems since 2017.

Doctors and nurses have spoken of feeling “brutalised” and burnt out, amid an escalating mental health crisis that has seen hospital staff take more than 8m days off sick in the past five years. The Guardian

Suicide rates FELL in England and Wales in 2020 despite Covid lockdown, ONS data shows

Suicide rates FELL in England and Wales in 2020 despite Covid lockdown, ONS data shows Suicide rates fell in England and Wales in 2020, official data shows — despite fears the first lockdown would trigger a spike.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found the overall suicide rate was 9.8 deaths per 100,000 people from April 2020 to December 2020.

This marked a 9 per cent decrease compared to 2019 (10.8 deaths per 100,000) and was 12 per cent lower than in 2018 (11.2). The Daily Mail

Global deaths from antibiotic-resistant 'super bugs' have surged seven-fold in half a decade

Global deaths from antibiotic-resistant 'super bugs' have surged seven-fold in half a decade Global deaths from antibiotic-resistant 'super-bugs' have surged 600 percent in just five years, one expert warns.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm over bacterial infections resistant to current treatments for years, and calling on people to use the medicines less often. The Daily Mail 

See also:

• Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis (open access) The Lancet

We'll be back on Tuesday the 19th of April

Our health news service will be taking a break next week for Easter. 

We'll be back bringing you our daily health care news service on Tuesday the 19th of April...

GMB’s Dr Amir Khan warning as Covid patients in Northampton and Kettering hospitals hits 14-month high

GMB’s Dr Amir Khan warning as Covid patients in Northampton and Kettering hospitals hits 14-month high Numbers of Covid patients in Northamptonshire hospitals reached the highest level in 14 months this week.

NHS England data released on Thursday (April 7) showed 186 people were being treated for the virus — 98 at Kettering General Hospital and 88 at Northampton — by Monday, the most since February 2021. Northamptonshire Telegraph

England has a new drugs strategy – what now lies ahead?

England has a new drugs strategy – what now lies ahead? The new drugs strategy for England shows the government is serious about righting the wrong of nearly a decade of disinvestment and political neglect. £533 million has been committed over the next three years to community treatment and recovery services, with additional funding for prisons.

As a society we now have a serious chance to transform our national treatment system and turn the tragic tide of rising deaths. But it won’t be simple. The King's Fund

Premature mortality in adults with severe mental illness (SMI)

Premature mortality in adults with severe mental illness (SMI) This report examines geographical variation in premature mortality (deaths under the age of 75 years) in people with severe mental illness (SMI) by upper tier local authority (UTLA) in England. It also considers the complex relationship between premature mortality in people with SMI and those without SMI at a local level. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

United against health inequalities: a commitment to lasting change

United against health inequalities: a commitment to lasting change This survey of trust leaders shows high board-level commitment and strategic emphasis on tackling health inequalities and commitment to making action on health inequalities 'core business'. However they describe several barriers to progress with nearly two in three (65 per cent) saying that wider pressures on the system and operational challenges hinder their ability to progress work on reducing health inequalities. Nearly half of trust leaders expressed concerns about the lack of access to data about health inequalities within trusts (49 per cent) and across the health system (48 per cent). NHS Providers

NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard: 2021 data analysis report for NHS trusts

NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard: 2021 data analysis report for NHS trusts This year's report shows the number of BME staff at very senior manager level has almost doubled between 2020 to 2021 – up from 153 to 298. The analysis also shows the number of BME board members across all NHS trusts have increased by a quarter between 2020 and 2021, and are up by three quarters on 2018 when the data was first published. 

The survey also showed the NHS workforce is more diverse than at any point in NHS history with more than 300,000 staff from a BME background – the equivalent of 22.4 per cent of all NHS staff. This is up from 18 per cent in 2017. However despite this rise, BME staff remain underrepresented in senior positions – particularly in board executive roles. The survey also shows that 29 per cent of BME staff experienced bullying, harassment of abuse from patients last year – three per cent higher than white staff. NHS England

Goldacre recommendations to improve care through use of data

Goldacre recommendations to improve care through use of data Patient care in the NHS will be improved through more efficient and safer access to health data, which will drive innovation and lead to potentially lifesaving research.

Professor Ben Goldacre, Bennett Professor of Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford, has today published the findings from his independent review into how the NHS can achieve better, broader, and safer use of health data. Learning lessons from the pandemic, the review advises how to utilise health data in healthcare and sets out 185 recommendations to the government. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Better use of data is vital to NHS recovery – the Goldacre Review is welcome but government must now provide a credible plan The Health Foundation
• Goldacre Review is important piece of puzzle in setting direction for use of health data for research NHS Confederation
• New vision for NHS health data has potential to drive health improvement The BMJ
• Goldacre review outlines recommendations on safer use of health data Computer Weekly
• Goldacre recommends Trusted Research Environments become ‘the norm’ Digital Health
• Goldacre report makes recommendations for data analysis in healthcare UK Authority

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

NHS under huge strain as A&Es turn away ambulances

NHS under huge strain as A&Es turn away ambulances Hospitals are under "enormous strain", with growing numbers so busy they are having to divert ambulances to other sites because they are unable to cope.

Over the past week, 20 NHS Accident and Emergency departments in England issued diverts, with patients taken elsewhere. BBC News

Miscarriage: Tens of thousands have PTSD symptoms

Miscarriage: Tens of thousands have PTSD symptoms Tens of thousands of women in the UK may be experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after miscarriages each year, a leading researcher warns.

Prof Tom Bourne estimates the number affected could run to 45,000 annually. BBC News

Shrewsbury inquiry chair willing to investigate Nottingham maternity scandal

Shrewsbury inquiry chair willing to investigate Nottingham maternity scandal A senior midwife who led the investigation into what was dubbed the worst maternity scandal in NHS history has said she would be willing to lead an inquiry into the deaths of dozens of babies at one of the UK’s largest hospitals.

An investigation by The Independent and Channel 4 News found last year that at least 46 babies suffered brain damage and 19 were stillborn at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in the decade to 2020.

Scientists stumped by ‘mini epidemic’ in child hepatitis cases

Scientists stumped by ‘mini epidemic’ in child hepatitis cases Scientists have been left stumped by an “unusual” spike in hepatitis cases among young children in the UK.

In England, 60 cases in children aged under 10 are being investigated, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. In Scotland, 11 children aged under five have been admitted to hospital with the inflammatory liver condition. The Independent

See also:

• Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation UK Health Security Agency
• Increase in hepatitis cases in children under investigation Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Childhood hepatitis: Why are we seeing an unusual spike in cases? BBC News

Almost 3,000 Covid deaths added to UK total after discovery of data error

Almost 3,000 Covid deaths added to UK total after discovery of data error Health agency says revision brings total number of deaths within 28 days of positive test to 169,095

Almost 3,000 Covid-19 deaths have been added to the UK’s official figures after the discovery of a data error.

The cumulative number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus rose by an extra 2,714 on Wednesday, in addition to 233 newly reported deaths. The Guardian

See also:

• Is now finally the time to ditch the daily Covid stats? The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: NHS staff absences due to virus hits 10 week high The Independent
• Covid-19 hospital admission rate in England is highest since second wave 
• The Independent
• People infected with Omicron ‘less likely to lose sense of smell compared to Delta’ The Independent

Most carers like me haven’t had a break since 2020 – it’s a scandal in plain sight | Yasmin Qureshi

Most carers like me haven’t had a break since 2020 – it’s a scandal in plain sight | Yasmin Qureshi For as long as I’ve been an MP, I’ve been an unpaid carer. It’s never been more urgent to fix this broken system. The Guardian

Having a waistline half your height is the perfect formula for good health, experts say

Having a waistline half your height is the perfect formula for good health, experts say There are many magic formulas when it comes to our health. But the simplest may be to keep our waistline half our height.

This is the new advice from health officials to combat bulging bellies amid a national obesity crisis.

Too much fat around the middle is linked to a greater risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, according to experts. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Keep the size of your waist to less than half of your height, updated NICE draft guideline recommends NICE
• Keep your waist to less than half your height, guidance says BBC News
• Ensure waist size is less than half your height, health watchdog says The Guardian

Why you still might NOT be able to get a face-to-face GP appointment on a Saturday or evening

Why you still might NOT be able to get a face-to-face GP appointment on a Saturday or evening An NHS contract that forces GPs to work Saturdays and weekday evenings contains a loophole that means a 'physical' doctor doesn't need to be available, the country's biggest medical union has claimed. The Daily Mail 

Drop-in clinics offering Covid spring booster jabs in bid to keep pressure off hospitals

Drop-in clinics offering Covid spring booster jabs in bid to keep pressure off hospitals Health chiefs are urging people to take up offers of Covid vaccine spring boosters in a bid to slow down the rise in hospital cases and deaths in Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• NHS tribute made from bed sheets unveiled in Northampton Northants Live

Research: Hepatitis C in England and the UK

Research: Hepatitis C in England and the UK Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health threat in the UK. These reports summarise the scale of the problem and are intended to support focused action. UK Health Security Agency

New calorie labelling rules come into force to improve nation’s health

New calorie labelling rules come into force to improve nation’s health New rules requiring calorie information to be displayed on menus and food labels come into force from Wednesday 6th April 2022.

The changes – which were approved by Parliament in 2021 – mean it is now a legal requirement for large businesses with more than 250 employees, including cafes, restaurants and takeaways, to display calorie information of non-prepacked food and soft drinks. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Calories now appear on menus in large restaurant chains  BBC News

Covid: Blood clot risk higher for six months after having virus

Covid: Blood clot risk higher for six months after having virus After a Covid infection, there is an increased risk of developing a serious blood clot for the next six months, a study from Sweden suggests.

The research found people with severe Covid, and those infected during the first wave, had the highest clot risk.

This highlights the importance of being vaccinated against the virus, the researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Risks of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding after covid-19: nationwide self-controlled cases series and matched cohort study (open access) The BMJ
• Covid rates in England are now the 'highest we've EVER seen', mass-testing survey reveals The Daily Mail
• Go to work if you have a headache or feel tired, Sajid Javid says (even though it might be Covid) The Daily Mail
• Cancer patients seriously ill after struggle to access Covid drugs in England The Guardian
• Covid-related deaths rise in England with infections at record high The Guardian
• Sadiq Khan calls on leading vaccine manufacturers to share Covid jab blueprints with world The Independent
• Covid cases: Why so many people are catching coronavirus for the first time now after two years avoiding it iNews

Mental health groups call for trans conversion therapy ban

Mental health groups call for trans conversion therapy ban Mental health bodies in the UK have called for the government to include transgender people in forthcoming legislation to ban conversion therapy.

Last week No 10 rolled back on a promise to include therapies to supress someone's gender identity.

It led to a huge backlash from LGBT organisations and the cancellation of the government's first LGBT conference. BBC News

See also:

• Memorandum of understanding on conversion therapy in the UK The British Psychological Society et al
• Conversion ‘therapy’ ban must protect trans people too - current plans are a betrayal to all trans people Mind
• First trans MP Jamie Wallis hits out at conversion therapy decision BBC News
• Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams urges ministers to include transgender people in proposed conversion therapy ban The Daily Mail
• Battle still on to protect trans people under conversion ban, say Tory MPs The Guardian
• Javid Claims Excluding Trans People From Conversion Therapy Ban Is 'Sensitive' Approach Huffington Post UK
• Boris Johnson defends not banning trans conversion therapy claiming it would harm children with gender doubts The Independent
• UK cancels global LGBT+ conference over trans conversion therapy dispute Reuters
• 'We need to be more careful' when it comes to transgender conversion therapy, says health secretary Sky News

NHS under ‘enormous strain’ in England as trusts declare critical incidents

NHS under ‘enormous strain’ in England as trusts declare critical incidents Hospitals and ambulance services across England are under “enormous strain” fuelled by “heavy demand”, “severe” staff shortages and soaring Covid cases, health leaders have warned after NHS trusts covering millions of patients declared critical incidents.

Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents the whole healthcare system, said the situation had become so serious that “all parts” of the health service were now becoming “weighed down”.  The Guardian

See also:

• Latest critical incidents highlight mounting pressure on NHS NHS Confederation
• Yorkshire A&E patients face 12-hour wait times amid rise in demand The Guardian
• Almost every hospital bed across Hampshire and Isle of Wight full as Covid rates rocket ITV News
• Critical incident declared at Portsmouth NHS trust hours after South Central Ambulance Service makes same move Sky News

More than a third of British cancer patients are diagnosed in A&E

More than a third of British cancer patients are diagnosed in A&E More patients are diagnosed with cancer in A&E in Britain than in other comparable high-income countries, according to the first major study of its kind. The Guardian

See also:

• Risk factors and prognostic implications of diagnosis of cancer within 30 days after an emergency hospital admission (emergency presentation): an International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) population-based study (open access) The Lancet Oncology

Fury as UK Government-funded vaccine manufacturing site SOLD to private firm

Fury as UK Government-funded vaccine manufacturing site SOLD to private firm A British taxpayer-funded vaccine manufacturing centre was today bought by a US pharmaceutical giant.  

The Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, in Oxford, was built in 2018 with the goal of developing vaccines to protect against future pandemics, jab shortages and price wars. 

But New Jersey-based Catalent has purchased the 74,000-square metre facility for an undisclosed sum. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Harwell VMIC: New vaccine centre sold to company BBC News

Cannabis will be tested as pain relief medication that could pave the way for NHS prescriptions

Cannabis will be tested as pain relief medication that could pave the way for NHS prescriptions Cannabis will be tested as a pain relief drug on thousands of Britons – which, if successful, could see the drug prescribed on the NHS.

Cannabis will be taken daily through inhalers in the trial with 5,000 participants with chronic pain, caused by conditions including arthritis. The Daily Mail 

Time to get tougher on the risk factors fraying our health?

Time to get tougher on the risk factors fraying our health? For the last decade, gains in life expectancy have been stalling. We’re living more years in poor health too, with a 20 year gap in healthy life expectancy between women living in the richest and poorest areas. 

The biggest risk factors driving the UK‘s high burden of ill health are smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol use. All are socioeconomically patterned and contribute significantly to widening health inequalities. Podcast from The Health Foundation

Social prescribing standard

Social prescribing standard Social prescribing helps connect people to services that can improve their health and wellbeing, and sharing information is key to ensuring people get the support they need in the community. This standard is designed to help ensure the right information flows between services to support better care and outcomes for people using social prescribing. 

PRSB were asked by NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop an information standard to record an individual’s experience of social prescribing: to support people providing social prescribing services; to support individuals experiencing social prescribing; and to support the information needed for secondary purposes (local and national). Professional Records Standards Body

Inadvertent oral administration of potassium permanganate

Inadvertent oral administration of potassium permanganate A joint National Patient Safety Alert has been issued by the NHS England and NHS Improvement National Patient Safety Team and the British Association of Dermatologists on the risk of inadvertent oral administration of potassium permanganate.

Health and Social Care Levy to raise billions for NHS and social care

Health and Social Care Levy to raise billions for NHS and social care From Wednesday 6 April, the Health and Social Care Levy will come into effect and begin to raise billions to help tackle the Covid backlogs and reform the adult social care system.

Over the next three years, a record £39 billion will be invested in the health and social care system to ensure it has the long-term resource it needs to provide world-class care, while delivering the biggest catch up programme in the NHS’ history. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• £500 million to develop the adult social care workforce Department of Health and Social Care
• National Insurance rise starts to hit pay packets BBC News
• National Insurance: Sajid Javid defends tax hike choice for NHS funding BBC News
• Boris Johnson defends ‘necessary and fair’ National Insurance rise The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson defends tax hike as national insurance rise comes into force The Independent
• When will National Insurance increase? Date the tax is rising and what it means for how much you will pay iNews
• Health and social care levy ‘will help clear NHS backlog’ ministers promise  iNews
• National insurance rise: How will it work and what will it mean for you? Sky News

Covid: React study finds latest wave 'may have peaked' in young

Covid: React study finds latest wave 'may have peaked' in young There are signs that the latest wave of Covid infections may have peaked in children and younger adults, according to scientists tracking the outbreak.

But rates in those older groups most vulnerable to severe disease are continuing to increase in England.

Overall infections in March rose to the highest level recorded in the pandemic, Imperial College's React study found. BBC News

See also: 

• Have I got Covid, a bad cold or something else? BBC News
• Shanghai Covid lockdown extended to entire city BBC News
• Why you DON'T need to panic about new Covid variant 'XE' The Daily Mail
• A NEW Covid variant, named XE, is detected in the UK The Daily Mail
• Thousands of recovered people can't get free test to prove they're negative as infections hit high The Daily Mail
• When should I do a Covid test in England and do I still have to isolate if positive? The Guardian
• Covid-related deaths rise in England with infections at record high The Guardian
• Scientists warn public health at risk as leading Covid surveillance programme ends The Independent

Women are 700% more likely than men to have ‘debilitating’ gut disease

Women are 700% more likely than men to have ‘debilitating’ gut disease Women are 700 per cent more likely than men to have a “debilitating” gut disease called microscopic colitis, new research has found.

The study, carried out by Guts UK, demanded more research is conducted to work out why the gender gap exists to ensure women are diagnosed more quickly and treatment for the illness improves. The Independent

Cancer patients seriously ill after struggle to access Covid drugs in England

Cancer patients seriously ill after struggle to access Covid drugs in England Cancer patients infected with coronavirus in England are becoming seriously ill after they were unable to access antibody or antiviral medicines on the NHS.

Ministers have promised to provide early treatment for 1.3 million people whose immune systems mean they are at higher risk of severe disease, hospitalisation or death. The treatments include the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab (Xevudy) and the antiviral medicines nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid), remdesivir (Veklury), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio). The Guardian 

NHS staffing crisis is jeopardising patients' safe care, say nurses at Northampton and Kettering hospitals

NHS staffing crisis is jeopardising patients' safe care, say nurses at Northampton and Kettering hospitals Patients are at risk of experiencing poor care or harm due to persistent staff shortages, according to nurses in Northamptonshire.

Findings from an annual Royal College of Nursing survey carried out between September and November last year revealed as few as one in six nurses believes there are enough staff for them to do their job properly. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Lack of ‘serious effort’ on cancer workforce shortages risks reversal of survival rates

Lack of ‘serious effort’ on cancer workforce shortages risks reversal of survival rates The absence of a serious effort by Government to tackle gaps in the cancer workforce is jeopardising earlier diagnosis, the key to improving overall survival rates and catching up with comparable countries.

In a highly critical report on cancer services in England, MPs raise the alarm on the damaging and continuing impact of the pandemic and warn of a real risk that gains in cancer survival will reverse. Health and Social Care Committee

See also:

• NHS not making progress on early cancer diagnosis BBC News
• Lack of 'serious effort' on cancer workforce shortages risks reversal of survival rates, scathing MP-led report warns The Daily Mail
• 340,000 cancer patients face late diagnosis due to NHS staff shortages The Guardian
• Warning 340,000 cancer patients could be diagnosed late amid NHS staff shortages The Independent
• Workforce pressures threaten cancer treatment, MPs warn The News Statesman
• Key target for waiting times on cancer treatment missed in 98% of NHS England areas in January Sky News

Five relationships that are essential to successfully managing the elective backlog

Five relationships that are essential to successfully managing the elective backlog Now that the national plan to tackle the elective backlog is public, thoughts will be turning to how to achieve the challenging task ahead. A week before the plan was published, we held a roundtable, supported by Novartis, with local health care leaders to discuss just that. The King's Fund

What next for NHS management? Messages for Messenger

What next for NHS management? Messages for Messenger A review of leadership in health and social care, led by General Sir Gordon Messenger, is underway and due to report in spring 2022. Ahead of the review’s recommendations, the NHS Confederation and independent academics from the University of York and London South Bank University are publishing a series of long reads on NHS management. In this final instalment, Professor Ian Kirkpatrick and Professor Becky Malby examine the implications for the future of NHS management and provide some key messages for the Messenger review and for systems leaders. NHS Confederation

The digital, data and technology playbook: government guidance on sourcing and contracting for digital, data and technology projects and programmes

The digital, data and technology playbook: government guidance on sourcing and contracting for digital, data and technology projects and programmes This document sets out key policies and guidance for how digital projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered. There are eleven key policy reforms for how the government should assess, procure and deliver digital projects and programmes which all central government departments and their arms length bodies are expected to follow on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. Cabinet Office

NHS develops world-first bedside genetic test to prevent babies going deaf

NHS develops world-first bedside genetic test to prevent babies going deaf A world-first genetic test that could save the hearing of hundreds of babies each year has been developed and successfully piloted in the NHS.

Taking just 25 minutes, the bedside machine identifies whether a critically ill baby admitted to intensive care has a gene that could result in permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic. NHS England

New review launched into vitamin D intake to help tackle health disparities

New review launched into vitamin D intake to help tackle health disparities A new review has been launched to promote the importance of vitamin D and identify ways to improve intake across the population, including through dietary supplements and fortified food and drink. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Nine new symptoms added to official list

Covid: Nine new symptoms added to official list The official list of Covid symptoms has been expanded to include another nine signs of a coronavirus infection.

The UK Health Security Agency's updated guidance now lists symptoms including a sore throat, muscle pains and diarrhoea. BBC News

See also: 

• People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 UK Health Security Agency
• Covid cases plummet by a THIRD following the end of free testing The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Free tests will NOT be coming back despite cases hitting pandemic highs, No10 insists The Daily Mail
• Why has it taken so long to add more Covid symptoms to NHS list? The Guardian
• NHS adds 9 ‘new’ official Covid symptoms - but experts ask why it’s taken two years The Independent

Repeated maternity failings uncovered in Sheffield NHS trust

Repeated maternity failings uncovered in Sheffield NHS trust Hospital inspectors have uncovered repeated maternity failings and expressed serious concern about the safety of mothers and babies in Sheffield just days after a damning report warned there had been hundreds of avoidable baby deaths in Shrewsbury. The Guardian

Concern over new Down's syndrome law championed by Tory MP Dr Liam Fox

Concern over new Down's syndrome law championed by Tory MP Dr Liam Fox A row has broken out over new laws designed to provide people with Down’s syndrome better access to healthcare, housing and education.

Campaigners – including parents of children with the condition – have criticised the legislation, which was approved on Friday, branding it discriminatory. The Daily Mail

New NHS blood test provides hope for Crohn's disease sufferers

New NHS blood test provides hope for Crohn's disease sufferers How a simple blood test could save thousands of patients from the agony of painful bowl operations for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

The PredictSURE IBD test can assess the severity of several bowel conditions Studies suggest it can identify 90 per cent of patients who suffer the worst Quick intervention and aggressive treatment can control the illness. The Daily Mail

99% of humans are breathing air that exceeds air pollution limits and that 'threatens their health'

99% of humans are breathing air that exceeds air pollution limits and that 'threatens their health' The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a dire warning Monday that almost all humans on earth are breathing unhealthy air.

According to the agency's standards for air quality, 99 percent of humans live in an area with unacceptable pollution levels.

The organization warned that polluted air is putting nearly everyone's health at risk long-term. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Air quality Database 2022 World Health Organization
• Billions of people still breathe unhealthy air: new WHO data World Health Organization
• Unhealthy air pollution impacts 99 per cent of people on Earth The Independent
• Harmful air pollution now affects 99 per cent of everyone on Earth New Scientist

Covid test requirements for visitors ended at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital

Covid test requirements for visitors ended at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital Hospital visitors in Northamptonshire will no longer be asked for proof of a negative lateral flow test now they are no longer freely available.

But medics at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital say visits must still be booked, you still need to wear a mask and sanitise — and must stay away if you have ANY Covid symptoms. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Five-year-olds to be offered Covid jabs in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northampton man lands £400 fine over lies to jump queue for Covid vaccinations Northamptonshire Telegraph

Wellingborough charity We Mind & Kelly Matters gets NHS funding for bereavement support services

Wellingborough charity We Mind & Kelly Matters gets NHS funding for bereavement support services A county charity set up in memory of a Wellingborough woman, who took her own life, has been awarded funding to help support adults and young people bereaved by suicide. Northamptonshire Telegraph

“A service in crisis” Survey reveals GPs concerns about mental health services for children and young people

“A service in crisis” Survey reveals GPs concerns about mental health services for children and young people Most GPs (95%) believe mental health services for children and young people are critically failing and have deteriorated over the past six years. This has triggered many to describe their local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) as “dangerous” and “unsafe”, new research shows. Stem4

See also:

• NHS is denying children help for mental health issues because they are not considered sick enough The Daily Mail
• Swamped NHS mental health services turning away children, say GPs The Guardian

Expert Panel: evaluation of the Government’s commitments in the area of cancer services in England

Expert Panel: evaluation of the Government’s commitments in the area of cancer services in England The Health and Social Care Committee asked the Expert Panel to evaluate progress against pledges made by Ministers across a range of policy areas - workforce, diagnostics, living well with and beyond cancer, and technology and innovation with CQC-style ratings against five specific commitments. The Expert Panel rated Government progress as ‘inadequate’ against commitments made to improve cancer services in a new report. 

The panel acknowledges that while some progress has been made in areas such as investment in diagnostics and innovative technologies and treatments, they conclude that the lack of adequate long-term planning for, and investment in, the cancer workforce undermines progress made and justified the inadequate rating.

New diagnostic centres deliver nearly three quarters of a million tests

New diagnostic centres deliver nearly three quarters of a million tests From Wednesday 6 April, the first ever dedicated Health and Social Care Levy will begin to raise billions to help tackle Covid backlogs and reform services in the UK.

Over the next three years, a record £36 billion will be invested in the health and social care system to ensure it has the long-term resource it needs while working to reduce patient waiting times and speed up diagnoses. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS rolls out COVID vaccine to five million 5 to 11 year olds

NHS rolls out COVID vaccine to five million 5 to 11 year olds The NHS will start vaccinating children aged 5-11 today, as the biggest and most successful vaccination drive in health service history moves to the next phase. Almost five million children in this age group are eligible for two doses of the vaccine following updated JCVI guidance. NHS England

 

See also:

• Update on prescription charges for COVID-19 antiviral medicines Department of Health and Social Care
• New guidance sets out how to live safely with COVID-19 UK Health Security Agency

Record 4.9 million people has Covid in UK

Record 4.9 million people has Covid in UK About one in every 13 people in the UK has coronavirus, according to latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

That is some 4.9 million people, up from 4.3 million people the week before.

ONS officials say that is the highest number seen since its survey began at the end of April 2020. BBC News

See also:

• What we now know about long Covid BBC News
• Covid vaccines now available for five to 11-year olds in England BBC News
• Lateral flow tests: Should I recycle the plastic? BBC News
• Covid is now more prevalent than EVER in England... so how rife is virus in YOUR town? The Daily Mail
• Revealed: Seventy-four Britons have had Covid FOUR times, official figures show The Daily Mail
• Covid infections among over-35s soar to record levels in England The Daily Telegraph
• UK Covid symptoms list expanded with nine more signs of illness The Guardian
• End of free Covid testing risks creating ‘a perfect storm’ for UK economy The Guardian
• I have long Covid and despair that the UK government ignores its blight | Ravi Veriah Jacques The Guardian
• How long Covid is accelerating revolution in medical research The Independent
• Clinically vulnerable Covid patients denied access to life-saving antivirals The Independent
• GPs can refer patients for free Covid testing, says NHS England Pulse

Gynaecology waits soar by 60% during pandemic

Gynaecology waits soar by 60% during pandemic Gynaecology waiting lists in England have risen by 60% during the pandemic - more sharply than any other specialty.

Across the UK, more than 570,000 women are waiting for help.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said patients were "consistently deprioritised and overlooked". BBC News

Gap-free human genome sequence completed for first time

Gap-free human genome sequence completed for first time Scientists say they have completed the first full and seamless catalogue of genetic instructions of humans.

Until now, about 8% of the human genome code was missing from the blueprint, experts told the journal Science.

The quest to decipher and complete a gapless DNA sequence has taken decades. BBC News

See also:

• Filling the gaps (open access) Science

Future maternity scandals may stay uncovered, NHS ombudsman warns

Future maternity scandals may stay uncovered, NHS ombudsman warns Exclusive: As new law gives provision for staff to give evidence secretly, Rob Behrens says Shrewsbury could be tip of iceberg

New laws allowing health workers involved in medical blunders in England to give evidence in secret mean future maternity scandals may remain uncovered, the NHS ombudsman has warned, as he says the “shocking” baby deaths in Shrewsbury are not a one-off. The Guardian

See also:

• Does damning Ockenden report net need to be cast WIDER? The Daily Mail
• New law means future medical scandals could be missed, says NHS watchdog The Guardian
• What is the ‘normal birth movement’ and why can it be harmful? The Guardian
• ‘Sense of deja vu’: other maternity victims say Shrewsbury not a one-off The Guardian
• The grim toll at Shrewsbury is a symptom of a public sector that doesn’t listen to its users | Sonia Sodha The Guardian

Autistic children wait up to five years for an NHS appointment

Autistic children wait up to five years for an NHS appointment Children are having to wait up to five years for an NHS autism appointment, according to figures obtained by the Observer that lay bare the crisis in children’s mental health services.

Figures acquired under the Freedom of Information Act show that 2,835 autistic children referrals at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust have still not had a first appointment an average of 88 weeks after being referred. The longest wait at the time the response was sent in January stood at 251 weeks – nearly five years. The Guardian

First osteoporosis drug of its kind for more than a decade approved for NHS use

First osteoporosis drug of its kind for more than a decade approved for NHS use A health watchdog has approved the first new osteoporosis drug of its kind for more than a decade, after medics urged it to perform a U-turn.

Earlier this year, more than 100 experts wrote a letter calling on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to repeal its verdict that romosozumab should not be given on the NHS. The Independent

See also: 

• Thousands of people set to benefit from first new treatment for osteoporosis for over a decade NICE

Senior nurse struck off after 'repeatedly harassing' female colleagues

Senior nurse struck off after 'repeatedly harassing' female colleagues A senior nurse has been struck off after a tribunal that heard he “repeatedly harassed” female colleagues ruled his behaviour was “deplorable”. 

Alfred Muvheni Mavurayi was alleged to have “constantly” made sexually explicit comments at “leered” at younger women while working as ward manager of the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. The Independent

Covid patients DOUBLE in Northamptonshire hospitals as government prepares to scrap free home testing

Covid patients DOUBLE in Northamptonshire hospitals as government prepares to scrap free home testing Free Covid testing ends on March 31st for the majority of people in Northamptonshire as NHS figures show the number of coronavirus patients in county hospitals has nearly doubled in less than a month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital halts home births as staff shortages lead to safety concerns

Northampton General Hospital halts home births as staff shortages lead to safety concerns Clinicians say staff shortages are behind a decision to temporarily suspend the home birth service at Northampton General Hospital from Friday (April 1). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Improving hospital discharge in England: the case for continued focus and support

Improving hospital discharge in England: the case for continued focus and support Most people admitted to hospital want to get better and get home, as soon as possible. But delayed discharges – where people remain in hospital when they no longer need hospital care – are an ongoing problem for the NHS. The Health Foundation

Spring Statement 2022: What does rising inflation mean for health and social care?

Spring Statement 2022: What does rising inflation mean for health and social care? As anticipated, Spring Statement 2022 provided no extra funding for the health and social care sector. But given consumer price inflation is now expected to reach 8% in 2022/23 – 5 percentage points higher than was expected last autumn – this will have an impact on the health and care budget, alongside a cost-of-living crisis that has real implications for those working in the sector and those waiting for care. The Health Foundation

Education and training tariff guidance and prices for the 2022 to 2023 financial year

Education and training tariff guidance and prices for the 2022 to 2023 financial year This guidance sets out the national tariffs for health care education and training clinical placements in the financial year 2022 to 2023. It also describes how the tariffs will be implemented and in what circumstances the national tariffs may be varied and how to do this. Department of Health and Social Care

Policy paper: NHS mandate 2022 to 2023

Policy paper: NHS mandate 2022 to 2023 The government’s mandate to NHS England confirms their objectives and budgets for the year ahead.

The financial directions published alongside provide further details on how NHS England’s budget is broken down. Department of Health and Social Care

Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers

Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Genomically confirmed case numbers for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Prescription charge waiver for COVID-19 antivirals and therapeutic clinical trials Department of Health and Social Care
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 13, 2021 to 2022) UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Nurses' boss wants life assurance scheme extended for NHS staff

Covid: Nurses' boss wants life assurance scheme extended for NHS staff The government has been called "disrespectful" for ending a UK-wide scheme that provided financial support to families of deceased health and social care workers in the pandemic.

Families of staff who contract Covid at work and then die are no longer entitled to the £60,000 compensation.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says it is not the right time to stop. BBC News

See also:

• Ministers must extend life assurance scheme for nursing staff contracting COVID-19 at work Royal College of Nursing
• Covid: Infections are sky high so why stop testing? BBC News
• Immensa: Why were Covid test errors at Wolverhampton lab not stopped sooner? BBC News
• Britons should KEEP wearing face masks because Covid infections are so high, top health chief says The Daily Mail
• More than 300,000 sign petition to keep free lateral flows after Friday The Daily Mail
• Failure to consider long Covid impact will hit UK economy, says expert The Guardian
• Examining the false narratives of Covid, two years on The Guardian
• LMCs raise alarm as rising COVID-19 cases drive up pressure on GPs GPonline
• Private firm running NHS Covid test sites axing more than 5000 jobs - letting all but 21 go without a penny The Independent
• Covid infections reach record high as free testing ends The Independent
• Covid-19 variant that ‘escapes immunity’ could take world by surprise – Vallance The Independent
• ‘Anti-science extremist’: Tory MP shut down for claiming Covid jabs ‘disaster in the making’ The Independent

Artificial pancreas to revolutionise diabetes care in England

Artificial pancreas to revolutionise diabetes care in England Nearly 900 patients with type 1 diabetes in England are testing a potentially life-changing artificial pancreas.

It can eliminate the need for finger prick tests and prevent life-threatening hypoglycaemic attacks, where blood sugar levels fall too low.

The technology uses a sensor under the skin. BBC News

See also:

• NHS runs world-first test into ‘sci-fi like’ artificial pancreases NHS England
• Hundreds fitted with artificial pancreas in NHS type 1 diabetes trial The Guardian
• Type 1 diabetes: All patients in England to be offered 'transformational' wearable tech Sky News

Less than half of staff at maternity scandal trust feel able to speak out

Less than half of staff at maternity scandal trust feel able to speak out Less than half of staff at scandal-hit Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust feel they can speak up about concerns, according to a staff survey, as a damning report warned serious problems persist in maternity care. The Independent

See also:

• Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Police probe 600 cases of care BBC News
• Sajid Javid vows to ‘go after’ those responsible for NHS maternity scandal The Guardian
• The horrific birth stories from Shrewsbury NHS trust are haunting. Sadly, they’re not unique | Gaby Hinsliff The Guardian

Boris Johnson forced to rapidly backtrack on U-turn over gay conversion therapy ban after furious backlash

Boris Johnson forced to rapidly backtrack on U-turn over gay conversion therapy ban after furious backlash Boris Johnson has reversed a plan to keep so-called gay conversion therapy legal after fierce backlash from campaigners and MPs, according to reports.

The U-turn comes just hours after it emerged the prime minister had decided against making it a crime to seek to change someone's sexual orientation. The Independent

See also:

• Conversion therapy: Ban to go-ahead but not cover trans people BBC News
• Boris Johnson backtracks over LGBT conversion practices ban after backlash The Guardian
• Gay conversion therapy will be scrapped in government U-turn ITV News
• Government backtracks on U-turn over conversion therapy ban Sky News

One in seven women die of ovarian cancer within two months of diagnosis, audit reveals

One in seven women die of ovarian cancer within two months of diagnosis, audit reveals The most deprived women in England are 50 per cent more likely to die of ovarian cancer within two months of being diagnosed than the richest, NHS data revealed today.

Overall, one in seven women lose their lives to the disease just two months after they are found to have it. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Ovarian Cancer Audit Feasibility Pilot: Outputs National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service

Citizens do want their health data to be harnessed for innovation

Citizens do want their health data to be harnessed for innovation While there is a lack of trust in the government, Dr Layla McCay, NHS Confederation’s director of policy, argues that citizens are not opposed to having their data used for the purposes of innovation. Digital Health

Have your say on the future of Northamptonshire's hospital services

 Have your say on the future of Northamptonshire's hospital services Hospital chiefs will be listening to public views on the strategy of Northampton and Kettering hospitals at an online event in April.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group – which runs the two acute units – is collecting feedback on its group clinical strategy which will be re-shaping the way it delivers services. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS staff survey 2021

NHS staff survey 2021 Each autumn everyone who works in the NHS in England is invited to take part in the NHS Staff Survey. The survey offers a snapshot in time of how people experience their working lives, gathered at the same time each year. The results of the survey report of under-staffing and in the last year, nearly half of staff reported feeling unwell due to work related stress. The survey also asked questions regarding the changes to working life due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as diversity and inclusion in the workforce and other topics. NHS Staff Surveys

See also:

• NHS staff survey signals urgent need for a workforce strategy The Health Foundation
• ‘Over-stretched teams working in an under-staffed health service’ The King's Fund
• Fall in staff morale a real cause for concern NHS Confederation
•  Exploring and analysing the results of the 2021 NHS Staff Survey NHS Employers
• 2021 NHS Staff Survey: making each voice count NHS England
• Staffing crisis jeopardising safe care, says RCN in response to NHS survey findings Royal College of Nursing
• NHS Staff Survey highlights a number of workforce trends National Health Executive
• Nursing staff are fed up with poor pay, feel burnt out, and are looking to leave Nursing Notes
• NHS staff survey: morale, pay satisfaction and wellbeing declining Personnel Today

Vulnerabilities: applying All Our Health

Vulnerabilities: applying All Our Health This guidance helps frontline health professionals, team leaders or managers, and senior or strategic leaders to prevent ill health and promote wellbeing as part of their everyday practice. It recommends important actions that managers and staff holding strategic roles can take. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

Policy paper: From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives

Policy paper: From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives A 10-year plan to cut crime and save lives by reducing the supply and demand for drugs and delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system. Department of Health and Social Care et al.

Lifechanging technology to be rolled out to all type 1 diabetes patients

Lifechanging technology to be rolled out to all type 1 diabetes patients Everyone living with type 1 diabetes will be eligible for lifechanging flash glucose monitors on the NHS, thanks to new guidance published today.

The NHS Long Term Plan has already helped almost three in five people with Type 1 diabetes to access the monitors that allow people to check their glucose levels more easily and regularly. NHS England

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Sajid Javid promises 'swift' changes

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Sajid Javid promises 'swift' changes Sweeping changes to maternity services in England are expected after a report laid bare catastrophic failures at an NHS trust that may have led to the deaths of more than 200 babies.

Over 20 years, errors at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust led to babies being stillborn, dying after birth or being left severely brain damaged. BBC News

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Ockenden Report Statement Department of Health and Social Care
• Shrewsbury and Telford maternity scandal: 'Grave concern' as new cases reported BBC News
• Ockenden Review: Mothers were blamed for their babies' deaths in Shrewsbury maternity scandal The Daily Telegraph
• ‘As an NHS midwife, the Shrewsbury baby deaths report didn’t surprise me’ The Guardian
• Baby deaths inquiry points to issues across England’s maternity services The Guardian
• Mothers were shamed and traumatised at Shrewsbury hospital. I was one of them The Guardian
• Shrewsbury maternity inquiry: ‘Cruelty beyond comprehension’ as mothers blamed for babies’ deaths The Independent
• Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Key findings from damning Ockenden inquiry report The Independent
• At least 201 babies and nine mothers died as a result of maternity failings at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, report finds Sky News

Covid: Can I catch Omicron twice?

Covid: Can I catch Omicron twice? In the early days of the pandemic, it was extremely rare to hear of people catching Covid twice.

That's not the case anymore, especially since the Omicron variant emerged in late November 2021. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Last day of free tests in England fuels concern BBC News
• End of Scottish face mask rules delayed until Easter BBC News
• Sir Patrick Vallance admits UK needs lockdown handbook for future pandemics as cases rise The Daily Mail
• Ministers have learned NOTHING from Covid pandemic, warns ex-testing tsar The Daily Mail
• Covid cases fall again as Sir Patrick Vallance says latest wave has peaked The Daily Mail
• Johnson refuses to admit lockdown rules were broken in Downing Street The Guardian
• Charging for Covid tests in England just as infections surge? This is an act of national self-sabotage | Frances Ryan The Guardian
• Covid labs given two weeks notice ahead of cut to testing contract The Independent
• Minister begrudgingly admits Covid laws were broken - despite No 10’s refusal The Independent
• COVID-19: Billions of pounds of taxpayers' money still at risk as a result of government's handling of PPE contracts, spending watchdog warns Sky News

Warnings that 400,000 patients may miss out on early cancer alert because of NHS shortages

Warnings that 400,000 patients may miss out on early cancer alert because of NHS shortages More than 400,000 people could miss out on an early cancer diagnosis over the next ten years due to ‘persistent failures’ to address shortages in the NHS, charities warn today.

Patients in England face the ‘deeply worrying prospect’ of survival rates going backwards unless the lack of staff and equipment is addressed, the head of Cancer Research UK said. The Daily Mail

MPs vote down plan to scrap scheme allowing women to take full course of abortion pills at home

MPs vote down plan to scrap scheme allowing women to take full course of abortion pills at home Women can continue to have abortions at home after Government plans to end the scheme were defeated.

The 'pills by post' service was set up at the start of the pandemic so that women who were unable to see doctors in person could still access early medical abortions.

The telemedicine service, relating to termination in the first ten weeks of pregnancy, allows women to take both doses of abortion pills at home. The Daily Mail