Daily UK Covid admissions drop 18% in a week and deaths fall 6% as pandemic pressure eases

Daily UK Covid admissions drop 18% in a week and deaths fall 6% as pandemic pressure eases Just 16,500 people tested positive for Covid in the past 24 hours while daily deaths and hospital admissions continued to fall.

Latest Government dashboard data — which is becoming increasingly unreliable now that free testing has been scrapped — shows there were 16,579 new cases on Tuesday. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid booster vaccines may not be needed every year, scientists say The Daily Mail
• 'Shielding' the vulnerable from Covid would have been worse than lockdown, study claims The Daily Mail
• UK records 16,579 more Covid-19 cases as infections plunge - but daily deaths rise to 451 Evening Standard
• Lack of Covid testing leaves researchers blind to evolution patterns, WHO warns The Guardian
• Women await ruling after challenging Government pandemic care home policy The Independent

Male contraceptive pill could enter human trials in just two months

Male contraceptive pill could enter human trials in just two months A male contraceptive pill could be tested in humans in just two months, scientists say — after it showed promise in trials on mice.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota, who invented the drug, say it could enter clinical trials as early as this July. The Daily Mail 

Is the NHS on track to recruit 50,000 more nurses?

Is the NHS on track to recruit 50,000 more nurses? In its 2019 manifesto the government pledged to increase the full-time equivalent number of nurses working in the NHS by 50,000 by March 2024. The latest data suggests that the NHS is on course to hit that headline target. However, England’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Ruth May, has publicly noted that, despite the increasing number of nurses, there are still substantial shortages. The King's Fund 

Staggering difference in life chances for those in poorest areas of England

Staggering difference in life chances for those in poorest areas of England 'Data released by the ONS shows the uneven impact of the pandemic with greater falls in life expectancy in the poorest areas of England compared to the wealthiest. It also highlights that in the most deprived areas, people are living more of their life in ill health. Girls born in the poorest areas of England live 19 fewer years in good health than those born in the wealthiest. A staggering difference in life chances. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Health state life expectancies by national deprivation deciles, England: 2018 to 2020 Office for National Statistics

Adenovirus probable cause of mysterious child hepatitis

Adenovirus probable cause of mysterious child hepatitis Health officials say there is mounting evidence that a common virus is linked to rare cases of hepatitis that have been occurring in some young children.

Globally, there have been 169 cases recorded, and one death.

In the UK alone, 114 children have become ill and 10 have needed a liver transplant. BBC News

See also:

• Research: Acute hepatitis: technical briefing  UK Health Security Agency
• Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation UK Health Security Agency
• Alarming outbreak of children's hepatitis may have been brought on by Covid lockdown weakening immunity, health chiefs say as two more children need liver transplants in UK and dozens are sick The Daily Mail
• Deadly outbreak of children’s hepatitis linked to lockdown The Daily Telegraph
• Ten UK children require transplant amid surge in hepatitis cases The Guardian
• Could Covid lockdowns be behind hepatitis surge in children? The Independent
• What is Adenovirus and what are the symptoms as doctors investigate spike in child hepatitis cases The Independent
• Hepatitis: What is causing the mysterious rise in liver disease cases in children? ITV News

MPs launch survey on body image and mental health

MPs launch survey on body image and mental health A survey looking at the effect of body image on physical and mental health has been launched by MPs in England.

It also asks whether people have used the NHS to deal with body image issues and how successful services have been.

The Health and Social Care Committee will use the survey as part of its ongoing inquiry into the impact of body image. BBC News

See also:

• Does the perception of your body image affect your health? (survey) Health and Social Care Committee
• MPs launch survey on body image and access to NHS services Health and Social Care Committee

Private mental health hospitals repeatedly criticised for unsafe care

Private mental health hospitals repeatedly criticised for unsafe care The main private mental health hospital chains that treat NHS patients have been criticised by coroners and inquest juries dozens of times over the last decade for providing unsafe care.

The Priory, Cygnet and Elysium have been censured at least 37 times for mistakes and lapses in care that were involved in the death of a patient, including several children. The Guardian

 

See also:

• These shocking stories show mental health is still not being taken seriously in England | Owen Jones The Guardian
• ‘How did I let her go there?’: mother laments daughter’s private hospital death The Guardian
• The Guardian view on mental health privatisation: unsafe spaces | Editorial  The Guardian
• Priory hospital failings contributed to death of man, 23, killed by train after he fled The Independent

‘It’s looking bleak’: how HRT shortages have affected women in England

‘It’s looking bleak’: how HRT shortages have affected women in England Shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products in the UK have forced women to resort to the private sector, ration their doses and procure supplies from abroad.

Although the last five years have seen the number of prescriptions double in England, shortages of HRT products have been a problem for several years, with shortfalls blamed on manufacturing and supply issues. The Guardian

See also:

• Sajid Javid is told to tackle HRT shortage himself as TWO-THIRDS of pharmacies face daily shortages The Daily Mail
• The shortage of menopause drugs isn't a niche feminist issue The Daily Mail
• As outcry over HRT supply crisis grows, audit reveals many women are being let down The Daily Mail
• How HRT prescriptions have DOUBLED in five years The Daily Mail
• What is HRT and why are there shortages in the UK? The Guardian
• Manufacturers struggle to keep up with soaring demand for HRT The Guardian
• Pharmacists call for urgent law change to deal with acute HRT shortage The Independent
• Hormone replacement therapy tsar to be appointed as drug shortages leave women feeling suicidal Sky News

‘Staggering rise in the number of people with stroke-inducing heart condition’

‘Staggering rise in the number of people with stroke-inducing heart condition’ There has been a “staggering” rise in the number of people living with a stroke-inducing heart condition, a new study suggests.

Cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) – a dangerous heart rhythm condition and major cause of strokes – have increased by up to 72% in England over the last two decades, the research has found. The Independent

See also:

• Temporal trends and patterns in atrial fibrillation incidence: A population-based study of 3·4 million individuals (open access) The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

Nottingham maternity scandal: Families ask newly appointed review chair to step down

Nottingham maternity scandal: Families ask newly appointed review chair to step down Families impacted by maternity failings in Nottingham have rejected NHS England’s newly proposed chair for the review and asked them to decline the offer.

In response to the appointment of Julie Dent as new chair for the NHS’ investigation into poor maternity care in Nottingham, bereaved families say they were left “distressed” and “traumatised” following the announcement on Friday afternoon. The Independent

UK's daily Covid cases hit just 15,000 a day as wave continues to recede

UK's daily Covid cases hit just 15,000 a day as wave continues to recede Britain is now recording just 15,000 daily Covid cases, according to official statistics that illustrate how the latest wave is still retreating.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data covering the weekend shows another 45,077 Britons tested positive over the last three days, while 341 virus deaths have been logged.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• Beijing kicks off mass testing after spike in Covid cases BBC News
• GPs tell how coaching helped them manage practices during COVID-19 GPonline
• Only 29% of UK Covid hospital patients recover within a year The Guardian
• Covid travel restrictions were ‘disproportionate, confusing and damaged industry’, say MPs The Independent
• GPs asked to remind clinically vulnerable Covid patients to use NHS lateral flow tests Pulse

Adults who exercise for 75 minutes a week are 18% less likely to have depression

Adults who exercise for 75 minutes a week are 18% less likely to have depression Walking at a brisk pace for just 75 minutes every week could cut your risk of depression, a new study finds.

The World Health Organization recommends everyone should exercise for at least two-and-a-half hours every seven days.

But researchers at Cambridge University, England, found adults who got half as much were a fifth less likely to have depression, while those who did the full time had a 25 per cent reduced risk. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (open access) JAMA Psychiatry

Council 'publicity stunt' £600 bonus a 'kick in the teeth' for Northamptonshire carers

Council 'publicity stunt' £600 bonus a 'kick in the teeth' for Northamptonshire carers Carers who were promised a £600 bonus for their incredible efforts throughout the Covid pandemic say they have not yet received any money in their bank accounts despite council promises. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Provider collaboratives: explaining their role in system working

Provider collaboratives: explaining their role in system working This explainer looks at provider collaboratives in England, the opportunities they provide and the unresolved questions to consider when thinking about their role in the changing health and care landscape. The King's Fund

Inquiry into women’s health and well-being in prisons: Briefing One

Inquiry into women’s health and well-being in prisons: Briefing One Prisons are unable to address the physical and mental health needs of women and in fact make them worse, an inquiry by an influential cross-party panel of MPs and peers has found.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the Penal System (APPG) has uncovered alarming evidence of poor living conditions, rising self-harm and practices that compound the victimisation of women in prison, the majority of whom have experienced violence or abuse prior to their imprisonment in a new report.

Ambulance pressures taking a significant toll on staff

Ambulance pressures taking a significant toll on staff Increasing pressures on ambulance services are leaving workers “overwhelmed” and struggling to shake off work stress when they finally finish their shifts, according to a new UNISON survey.

See also:

• Ambulance workers overwhelmed because of pressures they face – report The Independent

Government aims to eradicate modern slavery from NHS supply chains

Government aims to eradicate modern slavery from NHS supply chains The government has tabled a landmark amendment to the Health and Care Bill aiming to eradicate the use of goods and services in the NHS that are tainted by slavery and human trafficking. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus levels continue to fall across the UK

Coronavirus levels continue to fall across the UK The number of people who currently have coronavirus in the UK is continuing to fall, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It suggests around 3.76 million people were infected in the week ending 16 April - roughly one in 17 people.

This is a fall of about 15% on the week before - when the figure stood at 4.4 million, or around one in 15 people. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Tain family ends more than two years self isolation BBC News
• Covid 19: Vulnerable patients denied £800 anti-viral jab unless they go private The Daily Mail
• Recipients of Paxlovid report symptoms returning and even testing positive for the virus again The Daily Mail
• At least 70% of people have had Covid in England, official data shows The Daily Mail
•  ‘Living with Covid’ should not mean letting people go to hospital alone, says NHS chief The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock to publish tell-all book on government’s handling of pandemic The Guardian
• What does a faint line mean on a lateral flow test? The Independent

Women asked if bladder drug should be available to buy

Women asked if bladder drug should be available to buy A pill to help treat an overactive bladder - which affects millions of women - could soon be available to buy in the UK without prescription.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) wants women and doctors to submit their views.

Aquiette tablets treat the "urge to pee" condition which can cause frequent toilet trips and distressing accidents. BBC News

‘Woeful scarcity’: NHS psychiatrist decries lack of mental health beds

‘Woeful scarcity’: NHS psychiatrist decries lack of mental health beds As a psychiatrist, I reserve admission to a mental health hospital bed for only the most unwell patients, whose mental health has collapsed. But despite my very best efforts to keep as many patients as I can out of hospital, bed pressures pervade every aspect of my daily work. The decision about whether or not we can admit a patient with a psychotic relapse who is not eating or drinking, for example, must first be agreed by the trust’s bed-management team. The woeful and worsening scarcity of NHS mental health beds forces psychiatrists to make very difficult judgments about a patient’s need for care and the risk they pose. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS paying £2bn a year to private hospitals for mental health patients The Guardian

Sajid Javid plans review of impact of gender dysphoria treatment

Sajid Javid plans review of impact of gender dysphoria treatment A review of the long-term outcomes for children treated for gender dysphoria is being drawn up by ministers, following warnings over how little is known about children who later regret the treatment.

Sajid Javid, the health secretary, wants to hand new legal powers to an existing review into NHS gender identity services for children, granting it greater access to crucial data on the experiences of patients who have undergone treatment. The Guardian

See also:

• Sajid Javid to review gender treatment for children BBC News

At least one child has died due to mystery strain of ‘acute, severe’ hepatitis, WHO says

At least one child has died due to mystery strain of ‘acute, severe’ hepatitis, WHO says A severe hepatitis disease of unknown origin found in 12 countries has led to the death of at least one child, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At least 169 cases of the acute viral hepatitis disease have been reported in children aged from a month to 16 years old in countries including the UK, the US, Spain, Italy, and France, the UN health agency said. The Independent 

Next flu season could be worse than before pandemic, GPs warned

Next flu season could be worse than before pandemic, GPs warned Flu cases could rise to higher levels than before the Covid pandemic next season, the Government’s annual flu letter has warned.

It said that flu levels were ‘extremely low’ globally in 2020 to 2021 thanks to Covid measures such as mask-wearing and reduced social interactions and travel and ‘continue to be low’.

But the 2022/23 flu letter, published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, stressed that this may cease to be the case. Pulse 

Sajid Javid confirms West Northamptonshire's adult social care will stay under council and NHS control in integration plans

Sajid Javid confirms West Northamptonshire's adult social care will stay under council and NHS control in integration plans Sajid Javid has confirmed that West Northamptonshire's adult social care will stay under joint council and NHS control in new health and social care integration plans. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Will the rising cost of living be paid for by our health?

Will the rising cost of living be paid for by our health? This year households across the UK are facing the biggest squeeze in living standards since the 1950s. Most of us will feel the impact, but poor households are being hit the hardest. We know that poverty and the stress of debt harms our health in the short and long term.  

One role of the state is to provide a welfare safety net. After last month's Spring Statement, what should the government do now to support those experiencing the worst effects of rising costs? What impact on households and health are we already seeing? And what more can be done to help?  Podcast from The Health Foundation

Commitment and growth: advancing mental health nursing now and for the future

Commitment and growth: advancing mental health nursing now and for the future This report contains a range of recommendations to develop the mental health nursing workforce. It outlines eight system-wide recommendations addressing issues including career progression and encouraging nurses to remain in the profession. Each set of recommendations is broken down into action points for areas of work - analysing where and how changes can be made, to guide future policy. Health Education England

Integration and innovation in action: provider collaboration

Integration and innovation in action: provider collaboration This report looks at how collaborations between providers at neighbourhood, place and system level are making a positive impact on patient care. It explores different types of collaboration between providers at neighbourhood, place and system level. Based on interviews with leaders and clinicians, it identifies a set of common principles that underpin effective partnership working. NHS Confederation

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

Longest Covid infection lasted more than 16 months, tests show

Longest Covid infection lasted more than 16 months, tests show UK doctors believe they have documented the longest Covid infection on record - a patient they treated who had detectable levels of the virus for more than 16 months, or 505 days, in total.

The unnamed individual had other underlying medical conditions and died in hospital in 2021. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Isle of Man sewage testing to give early warning of spread BBC News
• Britain's decision to space Covid vaccines by 12 weeks was right: Wider gap generated nine times more antibodies, study finds The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 deaths registered in England and Wales continue to rise The Independent
• Third of over-75s in England get 'spring booster' in campaign's first month The Independent
• COVID news latest: More than 20% weekly drop in global coronavirus cases and deaths Sky News

NHS to ban products of slavery after PPE concerns

NHS to ban products of slavery after PPE concerns The NHS in England will be barred from using goods and services linked to slavery or human trafficking under a law to be introduced by the government.

It would prevent the health service buying equipment worth billions from parts of China where it is claimed forced labour is used in supply chains. BBC News

Doctors suggest adenovirus link to child hepatitis cases

Doctors suggest adenovirus link to child hepatitis cases Health officials are now investigating 108 cases of sudden-onset hepatitis - or liver inflammation - in children in the UK since the start of this year.

They say it is increasingly likely a virus which causes flu symptoms, known as adenovirus, could be the cause.

Officials are examining 79 confirmed cases in England, 14 in Scotland and 15 across Wales and Northern Ireland. BBC News

See also:

• Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation UK Health Security Agency

Study reveals clues to cancer causes and potential for personalised treatment

Study reveals clues to cancer causes and potential for personalised treatment Analysis of thousands of tumours has unveiled a treasure trove of clues about the causes of cancer, representing a significant step towards the personalisation of treatment, a study suggests.

Researchers say that for the first time it is possible to detect patterns – called mutational signatures – in the DNA of cancers. The Independent

See also:

• Substitution mutational signatures in whole-genome–sequenced cancers in the UK population (abstract) Science
• Cancer: Huge DNA analysis uncovers new clues BBC News
• ‘Mindblowing’ gene discovery brings tailor-made cancer treatment a step closer The Daily Telegraph

Eating-disorders hospital ‘gave patients unsafe food and staff comments hampered recovery’

Eating-disorders hospital ‘gave patients unsafe food and staff comments hampered recovery’ Patients at a hospital for people with eating disorders were at risk of physical and mental harm because they were given “unsafe and unacceptable” food, a watchdog has found.

Inspectors said they were also concerned about numerous ligature points at the Schoen Clinic York, and patients were not always treated with compassion or respect. The Independent

Priory hospital neglect contributed to death of patient, jury finds

Priory hospital neglect contributed to death of patient, jury finds The death of a 23-year-old man who ran away from a Priory mental health hospital and was killed by a train was “contributed to by neglect” on the part of the institution, an inquest has concluded. The Guardian

Women struggling to ‘sleep and work competently’ amid England’s HRT shortages

Women struggling to ‘sleep and work competently’ amid England’s HRT shortages Women are being left unable to sleep or work competently because of the shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products used to treat symptoms of the menopause, the former cabinet minister, Caroline Nokes, has said.

Millions of women go through the menopause every year, with many experiencing symptoms that can be severe, such as low mood, anxiety, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping, and have a negative impact on everyday life. The number of prescriptions for HRT in England has doubled in the last five years to more than 500,000 a month. The Guardian

Barriers ahead in race to integrated health and care system

Barriers ahead in race to integrated health and care system Barriers remain in the drive to move to a more integrated, prevention-focused health and care system

In a speech in March, health secretary Sajid Javid made a commitment to improve preventative care. “Not only do we need to put the power of every part of the NHS behind prevention, we also need to put the power of the NHS budget behind it too,” Mr Javid told the Royal College of Physicians. Local Government Chronicle 

Patients wait average of 11 weeks for treatment at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital as pressure on NHS hits 'unacceptable levels'

Patients wait average of 11 weeks for treatment at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital as pressure on NHS hits 'unacceptable levels' Patients were waiting an average of up to 11 weeks for routine hospital treatment in Northamptonshire during February, according to latest NHS England figures.

The King's Fund think tank says another national record for numbers of people on waiting lists shows the strain on the NHS is reaching “unacceptable levels.” Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital sees worst performance since records began Northants Live

Kettering: PM pressed over plans for delayed hospital

Kettering: PM pressed over plans for delayed hospital Boris Johnson has promised a meeting between the health secretary and three MPs about the delayed rebuild of Kettering General Hospital.

The hospital was awarded £46m for a new urgent care hub in 2019 and a further £350m for redevelopment.

The money has yet to be awarded and the town's MP, Philip Hollobone, said it was "the number one local priority for residents". BBC Northampton

See also:

• KGH rebuild funding discussed at Prime Minister's Questions Northamptonshire Telegraph

Ageing, inequality and ethnicity: evidence cards

Ageing, inequality and ethnicity: evidence cards This set of downloadable 'evidence cards' aim to highlight the contributions of and inequalities experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups approaching retirement age. The authors found inequalities in terms of health, wealth and life circumstances. They call for better paid work, more affordable and better housing, and targeted measures to reduce ill-health. Centre for Ageing Better

Managing cross-border travel during the COVID-19 pandemic

Managing cross-border travel during the COVID-19 pandemic Government has an opportunity to learn lessons from its experience of implementing cross-border travel measures during the COVID-19 pandemic should such measures be needed in the future, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

See also:

• UK quarantine hotels cost taxpayer £400m, watchdog finds The Guardian
• COVID-19: hotel quarantine scheme cost taxpayers almost £400m despite being estimated to break even - government's own watchdog finds Sky News

Covid: Woman caught virus twice within record 20 days

Covid: Woman caught virus twice within record 20 days A 31-year-old healthcare worker caught Covid twice within 20 days - the shortest-known gap between infections, Spanish researchers have claimed.

Tests show the woman was infected with two different variants - Delta in late December and then Omicron in January.

This shows that even if you have had Covid before, you can still be infected again even if fully vaccinated, the researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Omicron sub-variant causing havoc in the US is already in Britain The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases plunge by another third as hospitalisations and deaths fall again The Daily Mail
• £500million wasted on useless Covid PPE at start of pandemic 'could have paid for a brand new hospital' as officials admit they would avoid using a 'VIP lane' again in future
• Nearly half of those recovering from coronavirus infection endure ‘long Covid’ symptoms, study finds The Independent
• Healthcare worker catches Covid twice in less than three weeks The Independent
• Government fraud investigators probe PPE contracts, MPs told The Independent

Father calls for overhaul of 'flawed' suicide assessments

Father calls for overhaul of 'flawed' suicide assessments A father whose son took his own life in July 2020 is calling for an "urgent overhaul" of the way some counsellors and therapists assess suicide risk.

His son Tom had died a day after being judged "low risk", in a final counselling session, Philip Pirie said.

A group of charities has written to the health secretary, saying the use of a checklist-type questionnaire to predict suicide risk is "fundamentally flawed". BBC News

Urine bugs may be a sign of aggressive prostate cancer

Urine bugs may be a sign of aggressive prostate cancer Scientists say they have identified urine bacteria which are linked to aggressive prostate cancer.

The discovery might provide new ways to spot and even prevent these dangerous tumours, experts hope.

It's too soon to say if the bacteria might cause the cancer, rather than just be a helpful marker. BBC News

See also:

• Microbiomes of Urine and the Prostate Are Linked to Human Prostate Cancer Risk Groups (open access) European Urology Oncology
• Discovery of bacteria linked to prostate cancer hailed as potential breakthrough The Guardian

NHS waiting lists drive more Britons to pay for medical treatment

NHS waiting lists drive more Britons to pay for medical treatment Growing numbers of Britons are paying for private medical treatment because of the record delays people are facing trying to access NHS care, a report has revealed.

They are using their own savings to pay for procedures that involve some of the longest waiting times in NHS hospital, such as diagnostic tests, cataract removals and joint replacements. The Guardian

See also:

• Private Healthcare Self-Pay UK Market Report 4ed LaingBuisson

Suicide rates twice as high among patients with terminal cancers, heart disease and COPD

Suicide rates twice as high among patients with terminal cancers, heart disease and COPD Terminally-ill Britons are twice as likely to commit suicide as healthy people, official data shows.

A first of its kind analysis by the Office for National Statistics found the risk spikes sharply after the devastating blow of a diagnosis but slows over time. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Suicides among people diagnosed with severe health conditions, England: 2017 to 2020 Office for National Statistics

Antidepressants DON'T make people any happier, major study claims

Antidepressants DON'T make people any happier, major study claims Antidepressants are no better at making people feel happier than taking no medication at all, a study claimed today. 

Patients on the drugs did not have a significantly better quality of life compared to depressed people who were not on the pills, the analysis found.

Researchers looked 17.5million US adults with depression over 10 years, with around half on medication and half not. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Antidepressants and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with depression: Analysis of the medical expenditure panel survey from the United States (open access) PLOS One

In the poorest parts of England, life expectancy for women is lower than in Colombia, Latvia and Hungary

In the poorest parts of England, life expectancy for women is lower than in Colombia, Latvia and Hungary New analysis by the Health Foundation has revealed that life expectancy for women living in the poorest 10% of areas in England is lower than overall life expectancy in any OECD country, except for Mexico.

Women in the poorest 10% of areas in England can expect to live on average 78.7 years – significantly below the average of 83.2 years for the whole of England and less than the overall life expectancy for women in countries including Colombia (79.8 years), Latvia (79.7 years) and Hungary (79.6 years), as well as others. In Mexico, which has the lowest life expectancy at birth of any OECD country, women live on average 77.9 years.

Chart of the week: What is the scale of the race equality challenge in the NHS?

Chart of the week: What is the scale of the race equality challenge in the NHS? The recent workforce race equality standard report described how staff from a Black and minority ethnic background are less well represented at senior levels of the NHS, and that they have worse day-to-day work experiences and face more challenges in progressing their careers. In this chart, Billy Palmer shows how stark some of the differences are. Nuffield Trust

A response to the Race and Health Observatory (RHO) rapid evidence review into ethnic inequalities in healthcare

A response to the Race and Health Observatory (RHO) rapid evidence review into ethnic inequalities in healthcare This report looks at the NHS Race and Health Observatory (RHO) as a case study and its work to ‘identify and tackle ethnic inequalities’ in health. The RHO exists to bring about equality of outcomes in health care and calls for radical action, but makes calls for more research to find out precisely what that entails. Central to its recent report, Ethnic inequalities in health care: a rapid evidence review, was the role of racism - those who are not white are treated worse, given the wrong treatment, and avoid getting help for ‘fear of racist treatment from NHS healthcare professionals’. This report analyses rapid evidence review and questions the assumptions and conclusions contained in this work. It questions why the RHO exists and if it is achieving its aim of ‘equality of outcome’ for different ethnic groups. Civitas

The business of health equity: the Marmot review for industry

The business of health equity: the Marmot review for industry This report examines the evidence of how businesses affect our health, and what they can do to improve health equity. Businesses can affect health, for good or ill, through the pay, hours and conditions of work they provide for employees; through the products, services and investments that they offer customers and clients; and, more widely, by their influence on communities and wider society. The report encourages all businesses to use this influence to promote good health and a more equitable society. Institute of Health Equity

Adult social care: why it has even lower public satisfaction than the NHS

Adult social care: why it has even lower public satisfaction than the NHS In March, a witness told the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee that he avoided contacting his local authority because he feared it would be used as an excuse to reduce the amount of social care support he receives. Andy McCabe, who has spinal muscular atrophy, said: ‘When I contact social care because I need a review, advice or support, I always have a worry, a concern and fear that my budget will be cut. Just by contacting them, and them getting more involved in my life, suddenly things might start getting pulled away.’ The King's Fund

Health experts share priorities for Women's Health Strategy

Health experts share priorities for Women's Health Strategy Health experts have called for a greater focus on care for older women and improved support services for people experiencing pregnancy loss to help shape the government’s first-ever Women’s Health Strategy for England.

A total of 436 organisations and experts in women’s health – including from the charity sector, academia, professional bodies, clinicians and royal colleges – responded to a call for evidence to inform the government’s approach to tackling gender health inequality. Department of Health and Social Care

Hundreds of people diagnosed with cancer early through life-saving NHS lung checks

Hundreds of people diagnosed with cancer early through life-saving NHS lung checks Hundreds of people have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier through NHS mobile trucks, as part of the biggest programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis in health service history.

Thanks to NHS teams who are making it even easier for people to get a Lung MOT in travelling trucks visiting different areas across the country, 600 people have been diagnosed earlier. NHS England

Social distancing scrapped in waiting rooms in England

Social distancing scrapped in waiting rooms in England Patients in waiting rooms in England are no longer required to socially distance.

The new "stepping down" rules apply to NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and emergency departments.

People will still be encouraged to wear face masks and practise good hygiene. BBC News

See also:

• Pregnant women 'afterthought' in Covid jab rollout BBC News
• Partygate: Which Downing Street parties have resulted in fines so far? BBC News
• Scientists develop an app that can detect whether you have Covid-19 with 92 per cent accuracy The Daily Mail
• GP practices told to scrap 'physical distancing' despite COVID-19 workforce pressures GPonline
• Omicron XE: More than 1,100 cases of new Covid variant found in UK The Independent
• What is Omicron XE? Symptoms of the new Covid variant as hundreds of cases found in UK The Independent
• NHS social distancing rules for GP and hospital waiting rooms scrapped in England iNews

Hepatitis cases detected in children in Europe and the US

Hepatitis cases detected in children in Europe and the US Health officials say they are now investigating unexplained cases of hepatitis in children in four European countries and the US.

Cases of hepatitis, or liver inflammation, have been reported in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the US, health officials say.

Last week UK health authorities said they had detected higher than usual cases of the infection among children. BBC News

Psychedelic frees up depressed brain, study shows

Psychedelic frees up depressed brain, study shows Psilocybin, a drug found in magic mushrooms, appears to free up the brains of people with severe depression in a way that other antidepressants do not, a study has found.

The results, based on brain scans of 60 people, mean the drug could treat depression in a unique way, the researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression (open access) Nature Medicine
• 'I felt more joy than I thought possible' BBC News

Disruption to diabetes care during Covid threatens thousands, charity warns

Disruption to diabetes care during Covid threatens thousands, charity warns Thousands of lives are being put at risk due to delays and disruption in diabetes care, according to a damning report that warns patients have been “pushed to the back of the queue” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are 4.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK, and almost half had difficulties managing their condition last year, according to a survey of 10,000 patients by the charity Diabetes UK. The Guardian

Third of GPs in England want to quit within five years, survey finds

Third of GPs in England want to quit within five years, survey finds A third of GPs in England say they want to quit within five years, according to a regular survey which warns that clinical doctors are especially unhappy with the number of hours they work.

The survey of 2,195 GPs undertaken in 2021 found 33% planned to leave “direct patient care” by 2026. The Guardian

See also:

• Eleventh National GP Worklife Survey 2021 NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Systems and Commissioning
• Official GP work/life survey paints dire picture as one third consider quitting Pulse
• A third of GPs plan to quit within five years, finds survey University of Manchester

Half of small GP surgeries have shut in a decade with patients sent to 'soulless' alternatives

Half of small GP surgeries have shut in a decade with patients sent to 'soulless' alternatives Half of England’s small GP surgeries have closed in less than a decade – with more patients forced to travel to ‘soulless’ mega-practices, figures show.

Health leaders warned the move threatens the treasured doctor-patient relationship as patients are less likely to see the same medic each time. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'Soul of general practice' at risk as small practices decimated since 2015 GPonline

One-year cancer survival rate continues to increase in Northamptonshire – but early diagnosis lags behind

One-year cancer survival rate continues to increase in Northamptonshire – but early diagnosis lags behind Survival rates of cancer patients in Northamptonshire one year after diagnosis are still on the rise, new figures show.

But it comes as early diagnosis rates lag behind Government targets for 75 percent of cancer cases to be detected at stage one or two by 2028. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Daughter 'appalled' after elderly mother was 'left in her own urine for a day after being discharged' from Northampton General Hospital

Daughter 'appalled' after elderly mother was 'left in her own urine for a day after being discharged' from Northampton General Hospital A daughter says she has been left “appalled” after her elderly mother was allegedly left alone at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) for almost a day after being discharged, leaving her to call her daughter herself after being “saturated” in her own urine. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Home births: Concerns raised over halting of Northampton service

Home births: Concerns raised over halting of Northampton service Concerns have been raised that the closure of an NHS home birthing service will leave mothers-to-be without the delivery of their choice.

Northampton General Hospital temporarily halted the service at the beginning of April because of staff shortages at its maternity unit.

The hospital said it was due to Covid, other sickness and maternity leave. BBC Northampton

NHS Performance Summary: February–March 2022

NHS Performance Summary: February–March 2022 NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for February and March 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:

• Severe pressures in A&E should be a wake up call for Government to tackle the workforce crisis The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the latest monthly NHS hospital performance data The King's Fund
• Analysis: April release of NHS performance statistics NHS Confederation
• Longest waits falling despite busiest ever NHS winter NHS England
• Trusts are doing all they can to bear down on delays in the face of extraordinary pressures NHS Providers
• NHS activity tracker: April 2022 NHS Providers
• Impossible situation for emergency care staff as patients suffer long waits Nuffield Trust
• NHS faces an Easter 'as bad as any winter' BBC News
• NHS beds crisis as vacancy level hits lowest since Covid pandemic started The Daily Mail
• NHS waiting list hits ANOTHER high amid Covid-fuelled crisis: 6.18MILLION waiting for routine ops The Daily Mail
• Number of people on NHS waiting lists in England at record high The Guardian
• No sleep, little care, no medication: my 80-hour A&E ordeal | Fay Schopen The Guardian
• ‘Perfect storm’ of Covid and staff shortages leaves care homes unable to take hospital discharges The Independent

Approaches to projecting future healthcare demand

Approaches to projecting future healthcare demand To plan services and staff for the NHS, the government needs to know how much demand for services will rise and how much to spend on the NHS in future. These future estimates are known as projections: they indicate how much demand might rise or how much might be spent if certain assumptions hold true. This research paper aims to describe and critically assess alternative statistical methods for projecting future health care demand and expenditure. Centre for Health Economics

A window of opportunity: delivering prevention in an ageing world

A window of opportunity: delivering prevention in an ageing world This report brings together ILC UK's two-year global engagement programme on how to deliver prevention in an ageing world. It argues that while Covid has increased and exacerbated inequalities, it has also shown us how fast governments can act. There is a window of opportunity to build on the learnings from the pandemic. But governments need to act now. International Longevity Centre UK

Parkinson’s patients benefit from revolutionary watch on the NHS to manage care at home

Parkinson’s patients benefit from revolutionary watch on the NHS to manage care at home Patients with Parkinson’s disease are being given life-changing smart watches that allow doctors to remotely assess their condition in a pioneering project to revolutionise NHS care.

The cutting-edge gadget containing sensors, known as a Parkinson’s Kinetigraph (PKG), is worn around the clock for six days to monitor patients’ movements at home.

The information it collects is relayed to doctors who can look for signs that their medicines need changing, improving quality of life, or that make other interventions such as physiotherapy that can stop the condition getting worse. NHS England

Call for evidence for new 10-year plan to improve mental health

Call for evidence for new 10-year plan to improve mental health The general public, people of all ages with lived experience of mental health conditions and those who support people with mental ill-health are urged to respond to a 12-week call for evidence to inform a new 10-year mental health plan and a refreshed national suicide prevention plan seeking views on what can be improved within the current service, particularly in light of the pandemic which has led to record levels of people seeking treatment. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Open consultation: Mental health and wellbeing plan: discussion paper and call for evidence Department of Health and Social Care

Thousands more patients to access second ground-breaking antiviral

Thousands more patients to access second ground-breaking antiviral Thousands more vulnerable people in England are now eligible to receive the UK’s second oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

Paxlovid has been added to the PANORAMIC national study, the UK’s fastest-ever recruiting clinical trial of its kind, which is run by the University of Oxford in close collaboration with GP hubs. Department of Health and Social Care

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