Eliminating inappropriate out of area placements in mental health

Eliminating inappropriate out of area placements in mental health The government’s deadline to eliminate inappropriate out of area placements for adult acute patients by the end of March 2021 has now been missed by a full year. Sometimes hundreds of miles away from home, patients are unable to access their usual support networks while at their most vulnerable, often finding their care seriously disrupted with long term implications for their recovery. The NHS spent £102 million on inappropriate out of area placements in the twelve months up to and including March 2022 – the equivalent to the cost of the annual salary of over 900 consultant psychiatrists. This briefing sets out the urgent action the NHS should take to ensure all patients get the care they need from properly staffed, specialist services in their local area. Royal College of Psychiatrists

The Khan review: making smoking obsolete - independent review into smokefree 2030 policies

The Khan review: making smoking obsolete - independent review into smokefree 2030 policies This independent review into the government’s current tobacco control policies, led by Dr Javed Khan OBE, looks into whether government will achieve its ambition to make England smokefree by 2030. It finds that although good long-term progress has been made in reducing smoking rates to their lowest ever level, almost six million people still smoke in England and smoking is still one of the largest causes of health disparities. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

Biggest shake-up in health and social care leadership in a generation to improve patient care

Biggest shake-up in health and social care leadership in a generation to improve patient care The Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid has welcomed the publication of an independent review of health and adult social care leadership, led by General Sir Gordon Messenger and Dame Linda Pollard – and, in what will be the biggest shake-up in health and social care leadership in a generation, is accepting all 7 transformative recommendations they have put forward. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• The King’s Fund response to review of leadership in health and care The King's Fund

Policy paper: Coronavirus: lessons learned to date report: government response

Policy paper: Coronavirus: lessons learned to date report: government response The government’s response to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee joint report 'Coronavirus: lessons learned to date'. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government accepts or partially accepts majority of MPs’ recommendations on response to coronavirus pandemic Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee 
• Vaccine Taskforce to merge with UKHSA and OLS  Department of Health and Social Care
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

Covid infections up after Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Covid infections up after Platinum Jubilee celebrations Covid infections are up across the UK, according to latest figures that capture the Jubilee weekend of partying.

An estimated 1.4 million people or one in 45 has the virus - up from one in 65 the week before. That's a rise of 43%.

Experts say two new fast-spreading subvariants of Omicron -called BA.4 and BA.5 - are behind some of the new infections. BBC News

See also:

• BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron: How worried should we be? BBC News
• 'Long Covid' risk lower with Omicron, study finds BBC News
• UK health chiefs aren't considering jabbing babies against Covid yet The Daily Mail
• Experts tear apart flawed survey which anti-vaxxers have hailed as proof that jabs were never needed The Daily Mail
• Covid hospital numbers consistently rise for first time since April The Daily Telegraph
• UK Covid infection rate rising, with more than a million cases in England The Guardian
• Covid infections increased by 43% in week after platinum jubilee, new estimates show The Independent
• Desperate couple with long Covid planned suicide as ‘neglected’ sufferers struggle The Independent
• Former PMs urge government to increase spending on infectious diseases after Covid setbacks The Independent
• We could be heading into a summer surge of COVID Sky News

England appoints ambassador to shake up women's health

England appoints ambassador to shake up women's health England's first women's health ambassador is calling for "one-stop shops" where women can sort out their health needs.

Dame Lesley Regan, also a practising doctor, wants to make it easier for women and girls to access care such as contraception and smear tests in the community.

Her new role aims to close the "gender health gap". BBC News

See also:

• Dame Lesley Regan appointed Women's Health Ambassador Department of Health and Social Care

NHS takes action to tackle overprescribing

NHS takes action to tackle overprescribing England’s top doctor has refuted the concept of a “pill for every ill” as the NHS in England pledged to take action to reduce unnecessary prescriptions.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, raised concerns that the Covid-19 pandemic could have exacerbated the problem. The Independent

NHS will miss target for 50,000 more nurses by 2024, leaked data shows

NHS will miss target for 50,000 more nurses by 2024, leaked data shows The government is set to break Boris Johnson’s key manifesto pledge to add 50,000 NHS nurses to the workforce by 2024, leaked data shows.

New NHS modelling, seen by The Independent, indicates that the government could miss its target by more than 10,000.

It comes despite claims from health secretary Sajid Javid in April that the government was on track to meet its election promise.

NHS England already under as much pressure as in winter, says boss

NHS England already under as much pressure as in winter, says boss Frontline NHS services are already under as much pressure as they usually face in the winter, due to lack of staff and hospitals’ inability to discharge patients, the health service’s boss said on Wednesday.

In a speech to senior health service managers, NHS England’s chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, admitted that cuts to the number of beds had gone too far. But she blamed difficulties in social care for hospitals being left unable to admit the growing number of seriously ill people needing care urgently and patients being left stranded in the back of ambulances outside A&E units. The Guardian

See also:

• Hospital waiting list 6.5 million in England BBC News
• Ambulance waits: 'Can you please tell them to hurry up or I shall be dead' BBC News
• NHS waiting list shoots to ANOTHER record high as crisis leaves 6.5MILLION patients stuck in queue The Daily Mail
• How badly is the NHS crisis affecting your hospital? The Daily Mail
• Almost 100,000 facing excessive wait for serious cardiac care in England  The Guardian
• The Guardian view on ambulance waiting times: signs of a collapsing NHS | Editorial The Guardian

New strike chaos as teachers and NHS staff warn of action over pay

New strike chaos as teachers and NHS staff warn of action over pay A wave of 1970s-style economic unrest is threatening to spread from the railways across the public services, as unions representing teachers and NHS workers warn of potential industrial action over pay. The Guardian

UK monkeypox outbreak not yet under control, say experts

UK monkeypox outbreak not yet under control, say experts The monkeypox outbreak in the UK is not yet under control, experts have warned, with some suggesting that vaccines may need to be offered to all men who have sex with men.

Monkeypox, which is to be given a new name by the World Health Organization (WHO), is typically found in west and central Africa, but an unprecedented outbreak in recent weeks has resulted in cases appearing in a host of countries from France to Canada and Australia. It is understood the WHO will hold a meeting next week to decide whether to label the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. The Guardian

Horror flu season in Australia prompts warnings virus will cause havoc in Britain this winter

Horror flu season in Australia prompts warnings virus will cause havoc in Britain this winter Concerns are being raised about a major flu outbreak this winter in Britain and the US as the virus wreaks havoc in Australia.

Experts have been warning about the potential of an influenza surge throughout the pandemic, with lockdown thought to have weakened people's immune systems.

So far those fears have not materialised in the northern hemisphere, but Australia is currently in the midst of its worst flu season in years. The Daily Mail

Hope for drug-resistant superbugs as NHS strikes deal with pharmaceutical companies

Hope for drug-resistant superbugs as NHS strikes deal with pharmaceutical companies New drugs to fight superbugs are to be given to hundreds of patients across England as part of a deal which it is hoped will "save lives and strike a blow" in the global battle against antimicrobial resistance.

Some 1,700 patients a year will be given the new "superbug-busting drugs" on the NHS for infections which have become resistant to traditional antibiotics. Sky News

We will be back on Monday 20th of June

Our health news service will be taking a break due to annual leave, but we will be back on Monday the 20th of June.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

In the meantime, you can still get updates from our Twitter feed @NHFTNHSLibrary

No honour in abuse: harnessing the health service to end domestic abuse

No honour in abuse: harnessing the health service to end domestic abuse This report  looks at domestic abuse from a health perspective and states NHS England and the Department of Health must play a greater role in tackling what has traditionally been seen as a criminal justice issue. Health professionals need to be given the training and confidence to call out domestic abuse, which has such an enormous mental and physical impact on survivors, perpetrators, and their children. The health service needs to improve its collaboration with third sector support services which can often be better at meeting the need of victims. Centre for Social Justice

Tackling mental health disparities

Tackling mental health disparities Mental health inequalities mean that while it is true that anyone can experience mental ill health, the risks are much higher for certain groups who experience structural discrimination and disadvantage. This briefing sets out ten evidence-based actions that the government could take in the forthcoming disparities white paper. Centre for Mental Health

Beds in the NHS

Beds in the NHS This report shows that an additional 13,000 staffed beds are required in the NHS across the UK to drive meaningful change and improvement. Meaningful change and improvement would constitute a significant improvement in A&E waiting times, ambulance response times, ambulance handover delays, and a return to safe bed occupancy levels. Royal College of Emergency Medicine

See also:

• Emergency care is in “dire” situation after loss of NHS beds, says royal college The BMJ
• NHS needs 13,000 extra beds with major shortage putting lives at risk The Daily Mail
• Loss of 25,000 NHS beds caused ‘serious patient safety crisis’, finds report The Guardian
• NHS needs 13,000 beds to tackle A&E waiting times and ambulance delays – report The Independent

NHS staffing tracker: General practice

NHS staffing tracker: General practice Monitoring and analysis of key workforce targets and trends.

Most of the contact that people have with the NHS is with general practice: there are an estimated 300 million appointments each year. These services provide the first step in diagnosing and treating most patients’ health conditions. 

What are the trends in staff numbers working in general practice? Nuffield Trust

See also:

• GP pressures being felt across the country, but some areas more impacted than others Royal College of General Practitioners
• The areas with the fewest GPs revealed BBC News

Violent incidents at GP surgeries double in five years

Violent incidents at GP surgeries double in five years Violent incidents at GP surgeries have doubled in less than five years, according to figures from police forces across the UK.

An investigation by the British Medical Journal found the number of assaults at surgeries and health centres resulting in injury had almost doubled too.

Police forces recorded 1,068 violent incidents between 2021 and 2022, up from 586 between 2017 and 2018. BBC News

See also:

• Violent incidents at GP surgeries double in five years, BMJ investigation finds (open access) The BMJ
• RCGP responds to BMJ investigation on increase in abuse against GP staff Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs tell of ‘appalling’ abuse as violence at UK surgeries worsens The Guardian
• Criminal acts of violence at UK GP surgeries almost double in five years The Guardian

Cervical screening every five years ‘prevents as many cancers as every three’

Cervical screening every five years ‘prevents as many cancers as every three’ Women could be screened for cervical cancer every five years instead of every three and as many cancers could still be prevented, a new study suggests.

Researchers at King’s College London said that screening women aged 24 to 49 who test negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) at five-year intervals prevented as many cancers as screening every three years. The Independent

See also:

• Extension of cervical screening intervals with primary human papillomavirus testing: observational study of English screening pilot data (open access) BMJ
• Women can safely have fewer smears thanks to HPV test BBC News
• Screening every five years safe for women who test negative for HPV, study confirms King's College London

Shrewsbury hospital bed death of ex-police officer ‘avoidable’, inquest rules

Shrewsbury hospital bed death of ex-police officer ‘avoidable’, inquest rules The death of a retired police officer whose head became trapped between the rails and mattress of his hospital bed was an “avoidable accident”, a coroner has concluded.

Max Dingle, 83, died 15 minutes after he was found “entrapped” on a ward at Royal Shrewsbury hospital on 3 May 2020. A senior coroner found resuscitation had not been attempted despite Dingle electing for life-saving intervention and having a pulse when he was found. The Guardian

See also:

• Shrewsbury hospital: Man's bed death was avoidable, says coroner BBC News

Monkeypox: Eleven more cases detected in England, taking UK total to 190

Monkeypox: Eleven more cases detected in England, taking UK total to 190 A further 11 cases of monkeypox have been detected in England, health officials have said.

It brings the total number confirmed since 7 May to 183.

There are also four cases of the virus in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales, taking the UK total to 190, while the first case was reported in Ireland last Saturday. Sky News

See also: 

• UK monkeypox cases rise to 190 as 11 more Brits test positive The Daily Mail
• Warning as monkeypox scam targets NHS patients The Daily Telegraph
  
• Monkeypox isn’t shingles in disguise Full Fact
• Festival season could 'amplify' monkeypox outbreak as nearly 200 cases identified in UK ITV News

Suicide rates are THREE times lower in young people who go to university, official data suggests

Suicide rates are THREE times lower in young people who go to university, official data suggests oung people who go to university are almost three times less likely to commit suicide than those who don't, official data suggests. 

An Office of National Statistics (ONS) report looked at the rates in the general population compared to people in higher education, which also included college.

It found that, between 2017 and 2020, suicides among under-25s in England and Wales were 2.7 times lower in people studying compared to those who were not. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Estimating suicide among higher education students, England and Wales Office for National Statistics

ICS engagement with the adult social care sector in decision-making: final report

ICS engagement with the adult social care sector in decision-making: final report This report (produced with Care England and the Homecare Association) explores how measurement and culture might transform engagement from integrated care systems (ICSs) with the adult social care (ASC) sector. Good Governance Institute

Global oncology trends 2022: outlook to 2026

Global oncology trends 2022: outlook to 2026 This annual report examines novel medicines and the clusters of research, which promise a continuing sequence of breakthroughs in the decade to come. The report explores the impact of Covid-19 disruptions and the longer-term trends in the use of cancer medicines as well as the drivers of spending globally, in key geographies, by tumor type, and for specific types of oncology drugs. Please note that free registration is required to access the report. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science

Independent report: Higher-risk patients eligible for COVID-19 treatments: independent advisory group report

Independent report: Higher-risk patients eligible for COVID-19 treatments: independent advisory group report The independent advisory group identified which patient groups are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and would benefit from new COVID-19 treatments. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Independent report: The association between the discharge of patients from hospitals and COVID in care homes Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)

Public health agencies issue monkeypox guidance to control transmission

Public health agencies issue monkeypox guidance to control transmission New guidance to support healthcare professionals to respond to the outbreak of monkeypox has been agreed by the UK’s 4 public health agencies - UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland (PHS), Public Health Wales (PHW) and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland (PHA).

The guidance sets out new measures for healthcare professionals and the public for managing the disease and preventing further transmission now that community transmission is occurring here in the UK and other countries.

 

See also:

• Guidance: Principles for monkeypox control in the UK: 4 nations consensus statement UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: De-isolation and discharge of monkeypox-infected patients: interim guidance UK Health Security Agency
• Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UK Health Security Agency
• Research and analysis: Qualitative assessment of the risk to the UK human population of  monkeypox infection in a canine, feline, mustelid, lagomorph or rodent UK pet UK Health Security Agency
• Monkeypox cases rise as guidance advises infected to abstain from sex BBC News
• Global monkeypox threat upgraded to 'moderate' by World Health Organization The Daily Mail
• Signs and symptoms of Monkeypox: What to look for and how it spreads The Independent
• How worried should you be about monkeypox? The Independent

Nottingham maternity scandal: Probe finds ‘defensive and fractious’ culture among staff

Nottingham maternity scandal: Probe finds ‘defensive and fractious’ culture among staff A “defensive and fractious” culture among maternity staff at Nottingham hospitals has been found, as a report finds “bullying behaviour” and a “lack of respect” within the department. The Independent

See also:

• ‘I would encourage women who have concerns to speak out’, says maternity review chair Channel 4 News
• Something is ‘very, very wrong’ at Nottingham NHS Trust, inquiry head says The Independent
• Nottingham maternity scandal: Families say latest safety warnings just 'déjà vu' ITV News
• Ockenden to chair new review of ‘inadequate’ Nottingham maternity services Nursing Times

As UK Covid cases fall to lowest level for a year, what could the future look like?

As UK Covid cases fall to lowest level for a year, what could the future look like? After enduring record-breaking levels of Covid in the past six months, Britain has seen cases fall to their lowest for a year. But as the country eases back into a life more normal, will the disease remain in the background – or is another resurgence on its way? The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: Peterborough kidney patient still shielding BBC News
• Research reveals impact of Covid-19 on global cardiac services British Heart Foundation
• Covid lockdown blamed for deaths of more than 3,000 diabetics The Daily Telegraph
• As the pandemic ebbs, long-haul Covid still drains patients and confounds doctors The Guardian
• Sage: Hospital discharges not main driver of Covid care home outbreaks Local Government Chronicle

‘Exhausted’ medical students in England struggle to qualify amid financial woes

‘Exhausted’ medical students in England struggle to qualify amid financial woes Students working long hours around placements and ending up in hospital with stress – as NHS grapples with shortage of doctors. The Guardian

Drinking coffee slashes your risk of dying from all causes by up to 30% (even if you take sugar!)

Drinking coffee slashes your risk of dying from all causes by up to 30% (even if you take sugar!) Coffee drinkers are up to a third less likely to suffer an early death — even if they take sugar.

In a study of 170,000 healthy Britons in their 50s, researchers looked at people who drank unsweetened or sweetened coffee and no coffee at all over seven years.

They found that drinking between two to four cups per day was the sweet-spot, regardless of whether they used sugar or not. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association of Sugar-Sweetened, Artificially Sweetened, and Unsweetened Coffee Consumption With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Large Prospective Cohort Study (abstract) Annals of Internal Medicine

Taking vitamin D supplements before conceiving could make pregnancies safer, study suggests

Taking vitamin D supplements before conceiving could make pregnancies safer, study suggests A deficiency in vitamin D could raise the risk of women suffering a miscarriage, a scientific review has warned.

Around three-quarters of those in the UK who are pregnant in the winter do not have high enough levels of the nutrient. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Vitamin D and miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis (open access) Fertility and Sterility

How reliant is the NHS in England on international nurse recruitment?

How reliant is the NHS in England on international nurse recruitment? Registered nurses are the biggest area of workforce shortages in the NHS in England. Compared with many other OECD countries, the NHS relies heavily on international recruitment as a route to increasing nurse numbers. The Health Foundation

Valuing lived experience - learning report: are you ready to commit to the work of co-production?

Valuing lived experience - learning report: are you ready to commit to the work of co-production? Voices for Improvement is a National Voices project which seeks to strengthen collaboration between those with lived experience and decision-makers, in the service of improving health and social care. The project supports those with lived experience to provide coaching and mentoring to those in senior positions in health and care. The coaching allows clients to gain deeper understanding of lived experience perspectives and promotes the confidence to try new approaches to co-production in their own work. This report  summarises two years of work of the project.

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected 16 additional cases of monkeypox in England.

The latest cases, as of 26 May, bring the total number confirmed in England since 7 May to 101.

See also:

• Multi-country monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries World Health Organization
• Monkeypox wasn’t created in a lab - and other claims debunked BBC News
• Monkeypox and gay men: Separating stigma from health advice BBC News
• Got a new rash? Monkeypox or something else? BBC News
• Monkeypox patients should avoid pet contact BBC News
• NHS 111 ‘overloaded’ with callers asking if rash is monkeypox The Independent
• Close contacts of monkeypox cases ‘left in the dark’ as experts call for greater support The Independent
• Monkeypox outbreak could be just ‘the peak of the iceberg’, WHO warns The Guardian
• Monkeypox presents moderate risk to public health, WHO says Reuters

New clinical trials deal struck to better protect world from future pandemics

New clinical trials deal struck to better protect world from future pandemics Millions of people across the world will be better protected from future pandemics thanks to a landmark resolution brought by the UK and Argentina at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Friday 27 May.

By encouraging more specific funding, the resolution will help developing countries increase their capacity to run their own clinical trials – helping them to test new drugs, vaccines and other health interventions which will benefit their populations – while working across countries to respond to future pandemics more rapidly. Department of Health and Social Care

New calls for buffer zones around UK abortion clinics

New calls for buffer zones around UK abortion clinics Medical leaders in the UK have launched a fresh call for buffer zones to be set up around abortion clinics to prevent activists targeting patients and staff.

The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) wants a nationwide network of legally-protected spaces to be set up to shield patients from harassment and intimidation. BBC News

Unexplained child hepatitis cases rise again in UK

Unexplained child hepatitis cases rise again in UK Another 25 children have been diagnosed with unexplained hepatitis in the UK, bringing the total number affected to 222, health officials say.

Of those cases, 158 live in England, 31 in Scotland, 17 in Wales and 16 in Northern Ireland.

Most are under five years old and had diarrhoea and nausea followed by jaundice - yellowing of the skin or eyes.

A surge in cases has also been detected in countries around the world. BBC News

See also:

• Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation UK Health Security Agency
• Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children - Multi-country World Health Organization
• Hepatitis: Mum's fear for girl, 4, in mystery virus outbreak BBC News
• Another 36 cases of mysterious hepatitis have been recorded, but no new deaths The Daily Mail
• Hepatitis cases now being investigated in children over 10 The Daily Telegraph
• Mystery continues over liver failure in children across the world Metro
• WHO says 650 probable cases of acute child hepatitis reported so far Reuters

Australia faces worst flu season in years as scientists ready for UK winter

Australia faces worst flu season in years as scientists ready for UK winter The worsening flu season in Australia has provoked fears among UK scientists that the country will follow suit this winter, leading to mass infections and hospitalisations among all age groups.

Australia is bracing for its worst flu seasons in five years, after Covid restrictions suppressed the circulation of the influenza virus in 2020 and 2021. The Independent

Medical research stalled as NHS focuses on small number of trials, experts say

Medical research stalled as NHS focuses on small number of trials, experts say Government efforts to focus NHS resources on a smaller number of well-designed clinical trials could inadvertently be contributing to a backlog of stalled medical research, and result in some important trials being scrapped, researchers say. The Guardian

UK patients affected by infected blood scandal to receive payouts

UK patients affected by infected blood scandal to receive payouts A compensation scheme for thousands of people affected by the infected blood scandal, described as the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, will reportedly be announced within weeks.

Ministers will set up an arm’s-length body to administer the funds, which could run into hundreds of millions of pounds, and recognise culpability for the scandal for the first time, according to the Sunday Times. The Guardian

NHS watchdog rejects use of snortable antidepressant that contains ketamine-like drug

NHS watchdog rejects use of snortable antidepressant that contains ketamine-like drug A nasal spray treatment for depression derived from the illegal party drug ketamine has been rejected for use on the NHS.

Esketamine is said to work by changing brain chemicals responsible for mood, combatting feelings of depression in a matter of hours. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (guideline in development) NICE

No cases of monkeypox in Northamptonshire', says public health boss

No cases of monkeypox in Northamptonshire', says public health boss Public Health Northamptonshire is taking steps to re-assure and advise Northamptonshire residents about monkeypox as well as provide guidance as to what to do if they believe they may be infected. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Ministers should be wary of declaring war on the NHS

Ministers should be wary of declaring war on the NHS Words count – they can motivate or demotivate thousands of public servants and often signal the direction of policy. So the prime minister’s claim that some public bodies have a ‘post-COVID mañana culture’ will baffle hard-pressed NHS workers. The emerging narrative from government briefings – that the health service needs radical reform – will worry them even more. The Health Foundation

Reforming health care: reflections from a former health minister

Reforming health care: reflections from a former health minister The NHS is experiencing an unusual set of pressures at the moment, with waiting lists of 6.5 million, staff shortages, ambulance delays, long waits and much more.

Meanwhile, public satisfaction with the NHS has nosedived, according to the recent British Social Attitudes survey. While politicians acknowledge the challenges and repeat their support for the NHS, outriders on the political right are flexing muscles and calling for more fundamental reform – despite the ink only just drying on the last set of NHS reforms with the Health and Care Bill receiving royal assent.

Lord Norman Warner has been top civil servant, health minister from 2003 to 2007 and in the House of Lords for over 20 years, and has written about it all in his new book In Pursuit of Competence. He joins our Chief Executive Dr Jennifer Dixon to share his insights and reflect on what might be ahead. Podcast from The Health Foundation

Chart of the week: The over-representation of Black people as restricted patients in secure hospitals

Chart of the week: The over-representation of Black people as restricted patients in secure hospitals People with severe mental health problems who are in contact with the criminal justice system can be held as restricted patients in hospitals if they have been assessed as needing treatment. Miranda Davies takes a closer look at new data that shows that 16% of restricted patients in hospital are Black or Black British, despite only making up 3% of the general population. Nuffield Trust

South Asian Dementia Pathway Toolkit (ADaPT)

South Asian Dementia Pathway Toolkit (ADaPT) This toolkit aims to provide improved culturally sensitive support for people living with dementia from South Asian communities. People from South Asian communities are at greater risk of developing dementia but are less likely to access all points of the care pathway – and more likely to present in crisis and/or at a later stage. They are more likely to face barriers including a late or missed diagnosis, reduced access to treatments, and inappropriate or inadequate support coupled with problems caused by language barriers. They often rely on local, community-led organisations for support. Race Equality Foundation

Mental Health Act reform: race and ethnic inequalities

Mental Health Act reform: race and ethnic inequalities The Government announced plans in the Queen’s Speech to bring forward legislation to reform the Mental Health Act 1983. The proposals include approaches to reduce the disproportionate number of individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities subject to compulsory detention and treatment. This briefing outlines research on race and ethnic inequalities in relation to the Act, summarises proposals for reform and stakeholder views. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

New review sets out action to improve patient access to primary care

New review sets out action to improve patient access to primary care Neighbourhood teams must be central to improving access to primary care for patients, a new review has said today.

The teams, evolving from Primary Care Networks, should bring together general practice with other parts of the health and care system to improve access and offer regular support to those with complex needs such as elderly people or those with long-term conditions. NHS England

See also:

• Next steps for integrating primary care: Fuller Stocktake report NHS England
• Fuller sets a welcome vision for integrated primary care, but core general practice is in desperate need of support The Health Foundation
• On the day briefing: The Fuller stocktake report - next steps for integrating primary care NHS Providers
• The Fuller Stocktake report: a moment of opportunity? Richmond Group of Charities
• RCGP response to Fuller Stocktake on integrating primary care Royal College of General Practitioners
• Patients must have access to same day GP appointments, says NHS review The Daily Telegraph
• New neighbourhood teams would improve patient access to GPs and NHS, report says Evening Standard
• PCNs should evolve into 'integrated neighbourhood teams', says Fuller review GPonline
• New neighbourhood teams would improve patient access to GPs and NHS, report says The Independent

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Weekly national influenza and coronavirus (COVID-19) report, COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

Surveillance indicators suggest that at a national level, COVID-19 activity (including case rates and hospital admissions) has decreased in week 20 of 2022.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) increased slightly in England to 129 in week 20, compared to 127 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency

Scandal-hit Nottingham maternity services ordered to improve

Scandal-hit Nottingham maternity services ordered to improve A mother whose baby died after mistakes by staff said she "felt like I was dying" as the NHS trust responsible is told to improve its maternity services.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said units at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - which is under review after dozens of baby deaths and injuries - were still inadequate. BBC News

See also:

• Donna Ockenden to investigate latest NHS maternity scandal The Daily Telegraph
• Shropshire baby deaths inquiry midwife to lead Nottingham review The Guardian
• Women and babies still at risk at scandal-hit Nottingham hospitals, watchdog warns The Independent
• Nottingham maternity scandal: Concerns over staff ability to monitor babies heart rates The Independent

Monkeypox tracker ‘being developed to track UK cases’

Monkeypox tracker ‘being developed to track UK cases’ Health officials are reportedly planning a dashboard to track monkeypox cases in the UK - similar to one launched during the Covid pandemic.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently providing regular updates on their website on the situation across the country.

The total number of cases in the UK rose to 90 on Thursday - up from 75 the day before. The Independent

See also:

• Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UK Health Security Agency
• Clinical features and management of human monkeypox: a retrospective observational study in the UK (open access) The Lancet
• Monkeypox: Cases detected in three more countries for first time BBC News
• Monkeypox outbreak may have been imported to UK FOUR YEARS ago, says ex WHO doctor The Daily Mail
• Health chiefs only have enough monkeypox vaccine doses for 10,000 people The Daily Mail
• First monkeypox cases identified in Wales and Northern Ireland as UK total rises to 90 The Independent
• Monkeypox: Six of your questions answered by an expert virologist The Independent
• Monkeypox: Vet who caught disease in 2003 says new outbreak is a 'wake-up call for the world' Sky News

Bristol surgeon ‘harmed’ 203 women with unnecessary operations

Bristol surgeon ‘harmed’ 203 women with unnecessary operations More than 200 women were harmed when a rogue surgeon carried out operations on them unnecessarily, an NHS inquiry has found.

Some of the women were left with life-changing physical problems or unable to work, while many also suffered trauma and serious psychological harm as a result. The Guardian

See also: 

• Bristol NHS Trust finds 200 patients harmed by mesh bowel surgery BBC News

GPs: It could take a year and a half for face-to-face appointments to get back to normal

GPs: It could take a year and a half for face-to-face appointments to get back to normal Face-to-face GP appointments won't get back to pre-pandemic levels for another year-and-a-half unless ministers act urgently to improve access, campaigners warned today.

Official data shows just 63 per cent of consultations were done in person in England in April, up just 1 percentage point in a month — despite the worst of Covid being over and GPs told to get back to 'normal'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GP teams still working to their absolute limit, shows latest consultation data Royal College of General Practitioners

Explaining the health and care system

Explaining the health and care system How does the health and care system work? It is a question that is simple to ask but notoriously difficult to answer. The King's Fund

Broken ladders: The myth of meritocracy for women of colour in the workplace

Broken ladders: The myth of meritocracy for women of colour in the workplace Women of colour across the UK already know that experiencing racism at work is the norm. That’s why the Fawcett Society has partnered with the Runnymede Trust to produce their ground-breaking research, Broken Ladders: The myth of meritocracy for women of colour in the workplace.

Broken Ladders centres the voices and experiences of thousands of women of colour at work and explores the different experiences of women from different ethnic minority groups and religions.

The report shows that every stage of the career journey, from entering work to senior leadership, women of colour are being locked out of reaching their true potential.

Findings of the Second Permanent Secretary's Investigation into alleged gatherings on government premises during Covid restrictions

Findings of the Second Permanent Secretary's Investigation into alleged gatherings on government premises during Covid restrictions Final report on investigation into alleged gatherings during Covid restrictions (Sue Gray). Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

See also: 

• PM press conference opening remarks: 25 May 2022 Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
• PM statement to the House of Commons: 25 May 2022 Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
• Sue Gray report: Drunken No 10 party culture in lockdown laid bare BBC News
• Sue Gray report: 'I wish I'd taken a fine to be with my dying husband' BBC News
• Conservative MP suggests NHS staff 'let their hair down' BBC News
• Time to move on, pleads Boris: 'Sorry' PM issues a half-hearted Partygate apology after release of Sue Gray's account The Daily Mail
• Civil servants caught with their 'proverbial pants down' in Sue Gray partygate report The Daily Telegraph
• Sue Gray report: full breakdown of findings about No 10 parties The Guardian
• Partygate: cabinet minister says there was ‘blurring of boundary’ at No 10 The Guardian
• Nurse fined £10k over NHS pay protest in lockdown wins compensation The Guardian
• Safety regulator refused to investigate some NHS staff Covid deaths The Guardian
• Covid Bereaved Families Hit Out At Findings In Sue Gray Report Huffington Post UK
• Sue Gray’s report: What she said – and what she really meant The Independent
• ‘Absolutely certain’ Boris Johnson will quit if committee finds he misled parliament, says standards chief The Independent
• Partygate: Boris Johnson insists UK needs to move on from Downing Street lockdown events after damning Sue Gray report Sky News

Monkeypox: How UK hospitals are tackling the outbreak

Monkeypox: How UK hospitals are tackling the outbreak The majority of people in the UK who are unlucky enough to catch monkeypox will have a very mild form of the disease and recover quickly at home. A small number, though, may need specialist medical treatment.

That's where a group of NHS hospitals - called the High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) network - steps in. BBC News

See also:

• Monkeypox: public health advice for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men World Health Organization 
• Monkeypox: First case confirmed in Wales BBC News
• England records SEVEN more cases of monkeypox bringing the UK total to 78 The Daily Mail
• Monkeypox may have been circulating in UK for years, scientists say The Guardian
• Monkeypox: Charities warn against stigmatisation of gay and bisexual groups amid outbreak The Independent

The NHS' 'first climate friendly' operation

The NHS' 'first climate friendly' operation The NHS is a massive organisation and everything it does has an impact on our climate.

In fact, the activities of the NHS contributes to 6% of the UK's total carbon footprint. But climate change also directly costs it money, so reducing emissions isn't just green, it will also put more cash back into healthcare. BBC News

NHS lacks enough staff and equipment to give adequate cancer care, says survey

NHS lacks enough staff and equipment to give adequate cancer care, says survey The NHS has too few staff and not enough equipment to give people the cancer care they deserve, a poll has found.

The YouGov survey of almost 2,500 adults for Cancer Research UK found 75% of people agreed with the statement: “I don’t think the health service has enough staff or equipment to see, test and treat all the people with cancer who need to be seen, tested and treated.”

Of those who have had cancer, 76% agreed. The Independent

See also:

• NHS ‘understaffed and underequipped’ to tackle cancer, say 3 in 4 people Cancer Research UK

NHS performs world’s first double hand transplant for scleroderma

NHS performs world’s first double hand transplant for scleroderma A roof tiler whose hands were left unusable by an autoimmune disease has told of his joy after NHS surgeons successfully performed the world’s first double hand transplant for the condition. The Guardian

See also:

• 'A double hand transplant? That's space-age stuff'' BBC News

Scientists discover why people with autism may literally see the world differently

Scientists discover why people with autism may literally see the world differently Autism may be driven by unusually wired visual circuits in the brain which make babies literally see the world differently, scientists believe.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) scanned the brains of six-month-olds who were at high risk of developing autism because their siblings had already been diagnosed with the condition. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• Infant Visual Brain Development and Inherited Genetic Liability in Autism (open access) American Journal of Psychiatry

'Amazing' Northampton General Hospital teams get routine breast screenings back on target after Covid backlog

'Amazing' Northampton General Hospital teams get routine breast screenings back on target after Covid backlog Breast screening teams at Northampton General Hospital have been given a pat on the back for wiping out appointment backlogs created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton hospital patient breaks nurse’s skull and jaw in ‘unprovoked’ attack

Northampton hospital patient breaks nurse’s skull and jaw in ‘unprovoked’ attack A Northampton man has been detained under the Mental Health Act after punching a nurse unconscious, leaving him with a fractured skull and jaw. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire leading the discussion on acquired brain injuries

Northamptonshire leading the discussion on acquired brain injuries A landmark conference raising awareness of acquired brain injuries was held in Kettering with medical experts, people living with a brain injury, support organisations and sports professionals. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Myths and misinformation: mapping the barriers to smoking cessation and the uptake of nicotine alternatives

Myths and misinformation: mapping the barriers to smoking cessation and the uptake of nicotine alternatives This report uncovers a huge level of misunderstanding around the harms posed by tobacco, with 93 per cent of Brits overestimating the health risk of nicotine, one of the main chemicals in tobacco. The over 60s and those from the lowest socioeconomic groups (C2DE) are the most likely to be misinformed, illustrating the scale of the task at hand for the government. Demos

Drug misuse prevention review

Drug misuse prevention review The ACMD was commissioned in December 2021 to provide advice on preventing drug use among vulnerable groups of people, and how those groups can be prevented both from first using and from developing dependence on drugs. This report explores the factors that contribute to vulnerability, then examines general principles and specific approaches to prevention that are supported by the available evidence. It also considers the need for the delivery of interventions to be embedded properly in the wider system and context if their potential is to be achieved. Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Recruiting young people from care into NHS careers

Recruiting young people from care into NHS careers The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) looked after children pre-employment programme supports young people with a background in care and unaccompanied asylum seeker children, providing opportunities in NHS roles such as health care support, administration and ancillary. It was developed in partnership with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Next Step and The Prince’s Trust. NHS Employers

Government urged to pay low paid NHS staff more or risk deepening NHS vacancy crisis

Government urged to pay low paid NHS staff more or risk deepening NHS vacancy crisis NHS leaders are urging the Government to give health service staff on the lowest full time pay a higher pay rise than last year to help them mitigate against the worst effects of rising living costs and to avert a deepening of the NHS workforce crisis. NHS Confederation

Monkeypox: UK cases rise to 71, with vaccines for high-risk contacts

Monkeypox: UK cases rise to 71, with vaccines for high-risk contacts The monkeypox virus has been found in 14 more people in England, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 71, health officials say.

They are tracing high-risk close contacts of the cases to advise them to isolate at home for 21 days.

A smallpox vaccine is being offered to prevent them developing symptoms.

Anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of the body should contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service. BBC News

See also:

• Got a new rash? Monkeypox or something else? BBC News
• Monkeypox: Cases detected in three more countries for first time BBC News
• Monkeypox outbreak may have been sparked by sex at two raves in Belgium and Spain, WHO expert warns The Daily Mail
• Monkeypox virus may have evolved to be more transmissible The Daily Telegraph
• Monkeypox outbreak was waiting to happen, say scientists The Guardian
• Monkeypox cases are rare in children and parents should not worry, experts say The Independent
• Monkeypox: Scientists find potential antiviral treatment The Independent
• UK monkeypox cases: Where have infections been reported? The Independent
• Explainer: Why monkeypox cases are spreading in Europe, US Reuters

NHS intensive care staff suffered same levels of PTSD during Covid as Afghanistan combat veterans

NHS intensive care staff suffered same levels of PTSD during Covid as Afghanistan combat veterans NHS intensive care staff suffered the same levels of PTSD during the pandemic as British military veterans deployed in Afghanistan in a combat role, a study has found.

Researchers now say those affected should receive fast-track access to mental health treatment. iNews

See also:

• The mental health of staff working on intensive care units over the COVID-19 winter surge of 2020 in England: a cross sectional survey (open access) British Journal of Anaesthesia
• No 10 braced for Sue Gray's report into lockdown parties BBC News
• Partygate: Insiders tell of packed No 10 lockdown parties BBC News
• CDC issues warning that people treated with Paxlovid for Covid may have symptoms rebound The Daily Mail
• Are UK coronavirus cases actually going down or are they just harder to count? The Guardian
• While Boris Johnson partied, I helped a child put on PPE to see his dying dad The Guardian
• No 10 officials say party attended by Johnson so cramped people sat on each other’s laps The Guardian
• Sue Gray report to contain photos of Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Simon Case, source says ITV News
• What were the Covid rules when Boris Johnson was drinking at Downing Street party during lockdown? ITV News
• The damning testimony NHS staff have submitted to the Covid inquiry ITV News

New sight loss drug made available to thousands on the NHS

New sight loss drug made available to thousands on the NHS A new sight loss drug is to be made available to thousands of people on the NHS a week after it was approved by the medicines regulator.

Faricimab (Vabysmo) is an eye injection made by Roche which works to improve vision – or cut vision loss – in people with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) or diabetic macular oedema (DMO). The Independent

See also: 

• Thousands of people in England could benefit after NICE recommends treatment option for two forms of sight loss NICE

Women in England with breast cancer may qualify for drug that buys ‘precious’ time

Women in England with breast cancer may qualify for drug that buys ‘precious’ time Women with advanced breast cancer in England will be able to benefit from a new type of immunotherapy on the NHS after a U-turn by the medicines watchdog.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has overturned its draft rejection of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and said women in England can take the drug in combination with chemotherapy. The Guardian

See also:

• New hope for women with advanced breast cancer as immunotherapy drug approved for NHS The Independent

Support at the end of life: the role of hospice services across the UK

Support at the end of life: the role of hospice services across the UK Covid-19 created huge disruption to end of life care services, with many thousands more people dying at home than previously. Hospices play a vital role supporting people and their families at the end of life, but little is known about how these services are being delivered and the issues they are grappling with. This report, based on a survey carried out by Hospice UK, provides a picture of a sector undergoing rapid change in the face of fast-changing circumstances. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• UK hospices adapt to huge pandemic shake-up to end of life care Nuffield Trust
• End of life care explained: what is it, how is it provided, and what are the challenges? Nuffield Trust

Bringing together digital and quality improvement: how boards can connect the dots and create allies in service transformation

Bringing together digital and quality improvement: how boards can connect the dots and create allies in service transformation This briefing from the Digital Boards programme focuses on the benefits of bringing together digital and quality improvement. Trust leaders reflect on their collective role in leading these changes and how they can make best use of existing improvement capabilities, and set out some key considerations for boards. NHS Providers

Neurodiversity guidance for employers, managers, staff and students

Neurodiversity guidance for employers, managers, staff and students This guidance has been developed for staff and students who are neurodiverse and for the managers and employers who support them. It is intended for the health and care sector but its overarching principles could be helpful in other settings. Royal College of Nursing

Guidance: Monkeypox

Guidance: Monkeypox The epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis and management of monkeypox virus infections. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Poxvirus infection (monkeypox and smallpox) (open access) BMJ Best Practice
• Factsheet for health professionals on monkeypox European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• Guidance: Monkeypox: contact tracing UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Monkeypox vaccination UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Monkeypox: case definitions UK Health Security Agency
• Monkeypox World Health Organization

UK finds 36 more monkeypox cases

UK finds 36 more monkeypox cases The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it has detected 36 additional cases of monkeypox in England.

Adding in a new case found in Scotland on Monday, it brings the total number of infections in the UK to 57.

The rare virus - which causes a rash and a fever - has been seen around the world in recent weeks, which is unusual.

Health experts stress that the overall risk remains low, and that the disease can be contained. BBC News

See also:

• Monkeypox virus outbreaks are containable - WHO BBC News
• NHS only has room to treat up to FIFTY monkeypox patients at a time The Daily Mail
• Monkeypox could become endemic in Europe if it spreads to PETS: Health chiefs stark warning The Daily Mail
• Monkeypox outbreak: First case detected in Scotland The Daily Telegraph
• Monkeypox: UN criticises ‘homophobic’ reporting of virus outbreak The Independent
• EU warns monkeypox could become endemic and tells countries to take tougher action to tackle outbreak The Independent
• Monkeypox symptoms: What to look for and how it spreads The Independent
• Monkeypox conspiracy theories: Five false claims about the virus debunked as misinformation spreads online iNews

Covid-19 linked to impaired heart function, study finds

Covid-19 linked to impaired heart function, study finds Covid-19 is associated with impaired function of the right side of the heart, new research on intensive care patients has found.

Led by experts from NHS Golden Jubilee, the Covid-RV study was carried out in 10 intensive care units in Scotland.

It assessed the impact the virus had on 121 critically ill patients who required treatment on ventilators. BBC News

See also:

• Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis whose lungs are mechanically ventilated: a multicentre prospective cohort study (open access) Anaesthesia
• A multisystem, cardio-renal investigation of post-COVID-19 illness (open access) Nature Medicine
• Long Covid-19: 'I'm physically and mentally not able to do anything' BBC News
• Covid in Wales: Thousands wrongly given spring booster BBC News
• Long Covid? Don't fall for quick-fix 'cures'! The Daily Mail
• Covid can cause ongoing damage to heart, lungs and kidneys, study finds The Guardian
• New Covid variant explained: Everything we know about the new BA.4 and BA.5 strains and Omicron symptoms iNews

NHS 111: Parents anger over four child deaths

NHS 111: Parents anger over four child deaths The parents of a girl who died after failings by NHS 111 said they were horrified to learn coroners had already warned about similar shortcomings.

Hannah Royle, 16, died in 2020 after the NHS phone service failed to realise she was seriously ill.

BBC News found concerns had been raised about the call centre triage software in 2019 after three children died.

Gene-edited tomatoes could soon be sold in England

Gene-edited tomatoes could soon be sold in England Tomatoes that boost the body's vitamin D could be among the first gene-edited crops allowed on sale in England.

Researchers in Norwich created the plants by turning off a specific molecule in their genetic code.

A bill will be introduced on Wednesday to allow commercial growing of gene-edited crops in England. BBC News

Thousands of NHS workers may quit for better-paid jobs, ministers warned

Thousands of NHS workers may quit for better-paid jobs, ministers warned The NHS faces a “mass exodus” of thousands of staff to better-paid jobs in pubs, shops and supermarkets as a result of the cost of living crisis, ministers have been warned.

Health leaders fear significant numbers of lower-paid workers will leave for higher wages in the private sector amid rising food and heating bills and soaring inflation. The NHS already has 110,000 vacancies, and there are fears that a further deepening of the workforce crisis will “jeopardise” the ability of hospitals to tackle record-high waiting lists. The Guardian

Toothaches and waiting lists: where did the NHS dentists go? - podcast

Toothaches and waiting lists: where did the NHS dentists go? - podcast Millions of people in the UK are struggling to gain access to affordable dental care. Denis Campbell explores the crisis in NHS dentistry. The Guardian

See also: 

• ‘One woman took out 13 of her own teeth’: the terrifying truth about Britain’s dental crisis The Guardian
• NHS dentistry 'will die' leaving patients with 'no options' if practices continue to ditch health service ties, experts warn Sky News

Ambulance trust 'covered up evidence about mistakes by paramedics linked to deaths of 90 patients'

Ambulance trust 'covered up evidence about mistakes by paramedics linked to deaths of 90 patients' An NHS ambulance service misled coroners by changing documents and witness statements about deaths linked to how it treated patients, it has been reported. 

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has been accused of doctoring multiple reports and keeping families in the dark about exactly how their loved ones died.

It is claimed that coroners were not given key evidence and that senior managers at the service edited witness statements that had been requested, in some cases making it look like no mistakes had been made. The Daily Mail

See also:

• North East Ambulance Service: Cover-up claims to be probed by government BBC News
• Ambulance service apologises for covering up paramedics' mistakes The Guardian