Personalised cancer vaccine trials produce 'really hopeful' results

Personalised cancer vaccine trials produce 'really hopeful' results The jab, made using similar technology to Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID vaccine, sees DNA from an individual patient's tumour and cut and pasted into a harmless virus, which is injected into the body to train the immune system to be alert for cancer cells. Sky News

ADHD drugs could treat ALZHEIMER'S: Scientists say there's 'good evidence'

ADHD drugs could treat ALZHEIMER'S: Scientists say there's 'good evidence' Common drugs given to hyperactive children could also treat Alzheimer's, research suggests. 

Dementia patients given ADHD medication like Ritalin saw significant improvements to their cognition and brain function, according to a review.

The drugs are thought to be a good match because they kickstart a brain region that influences things like attention, learning and memory. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cognitive and neuropsychiatric effects of noradrenergic treatment in Alzheimer’s disease: systematic review and meta-analysis (open access) Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry

There's a 'clear benefit' in choosing water births over traditional deliveries: study

There's a 'clear benefit' in choosing water births over traditional deliveries: study Water births provide 'clear benefits' for mothers and their new-borns, with fewer complications, evidence suggests.

Researchers analysed 36 studies involving more than 150,000 women to compare the interventions needed during and after labour between the two different types of water birth compared to standard care, without the use of a birthing pool. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis to examine intrapartum interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes following immersion in water during labour and waterbirth (open access) BMJ Open

Northants health boss urges unwell to stay off to stop Covid

Northants health boss urges unwell to stay off to stop Covid A health official urged people feeling unwell to not go to work or public places to stop the spread of Covid.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show an estimated 2.3 million people - or one in 30 - has the virus, a rise of 32% on the week before.

Sally Burns, interim director of public health for West Northamptonshire, said the area had seen a 50% week-on-week rise in cases.

She said "some precautions" from earlier in the pandemic were needed. BBC Northampton

Summary of evidence on public mental health interventions

Summary of evidence on public mental health interventions This report summarises the evidence about public mental health interventions, identifying intervention areas with the strongest evidence base as well as priority areas for future research. The report includes evidence on public mental health interventions across the following areas: pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence; interventions to reduce mental health inequalities for people in marginalised groups; and interventions to prevent mental disorder and the loss of healthy years and premature death. Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Public mental health and smoking

Public mental health and smoking This report is a practical document, designed to drive action locally, regionally and nationally across sectors. It is for people and organisations developing plans and strategies to improve mental and physical health in our communities, particularly those working to implement public mental health approaches to prevent poor mental health in society. It provides evidence that people with poor mental health are more likely to smoke and that smoking can damage people’s mental health. Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Better commissioning for better lives: top tips for commissioners

Better commissioning for better lives: top tips for commissioners This top tips for commissioners briefing is based on roundtable discussions between people with learning disabilities and commissioners in March 2022. They are part of a joint call to action from the Mental Health Network, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities and Mencap to move beyond the years of policies and good intentions to now focus on making equality and inclusion for people with learning disabilities a reality. NHS Confederation

Flooding and public mental health: assessment and management

Flooding and public mental health: assessment and management This guidance on flooding and health aims to provide information for public health authorities, emergency services and health professionals on the measures needed to prevent major effects on health arising from floods in England. UK Health Security Agency

Research: Monkeypox outbreak: epidemiological overview

Research: Monkeypox outbreak: epidemiological overview Monkeypox is a re-emerging zoonotic infection, caused by the monkeypox virus, that occurs mostly in West and Central Africa.

This report covers the latest national and regional figures for cases of monkeypox found in the UK.

Further details on the epidemiology are available in the monkeypox technical briefing. UK Health Security Agency

Hospices hit by rising costs and falling donations

Hospices hit by rising costs and falling donations A combination of rising costs and falling donations is hitting the incomes of UK hospices, a provider has told the BBC.

Havens Hospices in Essex said it was making it harder to meet rising demand at its sites in Southend and Benfleet.

The average value of one-off donations to the charity has halved since April and its energy, food and staffing costs are soaring, said boss Steve Smith. BBC News

Director of new pandemic institute urges government to prepare UK for next outbreak

Director of new pandemic institute urges government to prepare UK for next outbreak The director of a new UK institute dedicated to fighting future outbreaks of infectious diseases has urged the government “to put your money where your mouth is” and invest more in pandemic preparedness.

The Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI), which formally launches on Tuesday, has been founded by experts at the University of Oxford to identify and better respond to pandemic threats. The Independent

Covid cases are soaring, but medical breakthroughs mean NHS wards look very different to previous waves

Covid cases are soaring, but medical breakthroughs mean NHS wards look very different to previous waves Around two per cent of patients in hospital with Covid require mechanical ventilation, compared with 11 per cent at the height of the winter wave in 2021.

The number of Covid patients entering intensive care is not rising in line with a steep uptick in hospital admissions as the impact of vaccination and new antiviral medications appears to be holding at bay new waves of serious illness. iNews

See also:

• Covid Wales: Masks back at more hospitals as cases rise BBC News
• Another wave: is this ‘living with Covid’? (podcast) The Guardian
• Handle with care: mistakes and near-misses at UK Covid labs The Guardian
• Covid-positive hospital patients in England now over 10,000 The Independent
• The hidden impacts of Long COVID (podcast) Sky News

Kellogg’s fails in court challenge against UK high-sugar cereal rules

Kellogg’s fails in court challenge against UK high-sugar cereal rules Kellogg’s has failed in a legal challenge against new regulations that ban it from promoting sugar-filled cereals with buy-one-get-one-free offers.

The cereal company, whose brands include Corn Flakes, Coco Pops and Frosties, had argued the government’s inclusion of its cereals among “less healthy” foods was unfair because it did not take into account the milk that is usually added at breakfast time. The Guardian

See also:

• Kellogg's loses court case over sugary cereal supermarket offers BBC News

NHS to test using drones to fly chemotherapy drugs to Isle of Wight

NHS to test using drones to fly chemotherapy drugs to Isle of Wight The NHS plans to use drones to fly chemotherapy drugs to cancer patients in England to avoid the need for long journeys to collect them.

The devices will transport doses from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight in a trial that, if successful, will lead to drones being used for similar drops elsewhere. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS trials using drones to deliver chemotherapy drugs BBC News

More than 11,000 bowel cancer deaths could be prevented by simply reinviting people

More than 11,000 bowel cancer deaths could be prevented by simply reinviting people More than 11,000 lives could be saved by simply reinviting people who miss key bowel cancer test, research suggests.

A yearly reminder would boost uptake by nearly 14 per cent and catch thousands more cases of the disease, the Cancer Research UK study found.

Everyone aged 60 to 74 who is registered with a GP in England is automatically sent an at-home stool test every two years. The Daily Mail 

See also:

• Closing the gap: How new screening interventions could reduce inequalities in bowel cancer outcomes Cancer Research UK
• Modelling cost-effective strategies for minimising socioeconomic inequalities in colorectal cancer screening outcomes in England (abstract) Preventive Medicine

Northamptonshire cancer patient told he has just months to live launches petition calling for 'amazing' chemotherapy treatment to be funded by NHS

Northamptonshire cancer patient told he has just months to live launches petition calling for 'amazing' chemotherapy treatment to be funded by NHS A Northamptonshire man who was told he has just months to live unless he undergoes major breakthrough surgery has launched a petition calling for a form of chemotherapy to be made available on the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A new NHS reorganisation: will it work this time?

A new NHS reorganisation: will it work this time? From today, integrated care boards take statutory control over a budget of tens of billions of pounds. It marks the biggest legislative restructure of the NHS in England for 10 years, but is the latest in a long line of attempts across the UK to make health and care services work together better. With many of the previous efforts underlining how difficult it is to make progress, Mark Dayan, Camille Oung and Sarah Reed take a closer look at what we may learn from the past. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• The Health and Care Act The BMA
• New beginnings for the NHS NHS Confederation
• What are Integrated Care Systems? NHS Confederation 
• Integrated Care Boards NHS Digital
• Integrated care systems explained NHS Providers

Guidance: Virginity testing and hymenoplasty multi-agency guidance

Guidance: Virginity testing and hymenoplasty multi-agency guidance This guidance offers advice for chief executives, directors, senior managers, front-line professionals within agencies and anyone else who may come in to contact with women and girls affected by virginity testing and hymenoplasty. It encourages agencies to cooperate and work together to protect and support those at risk of, or who have undergone, these procedures.

The Health and Care 2022 Act makes carrying out, offering, and aiding and abetting virginity testing and hymenoplasty illegal. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS checks and treatment on patients’ doorsteps part of new changes to health and care in England

NHS checks and treatment on patients’ doorsteps part of new changes to health and care in England Dedicated mental health staff to help children and young people in GP practices, and blood pressure checks in betting shops, are among initiatives devised and delivered by new integrated care systems that come fully into force today.

Boosting health checks in the community to find people with health problems before they become seriously unwell is a key goal of the shift to integrated care systems, where local organisations work together to better meet the needs of local people. NHS England

NHS saves £1.2 billion on medicines over three years

NHS saves £1.2 billion on medicines over three years The NHS has saved taxpayers £1.2 billion in just three years, while securing cutting-edge treatments for patients, by using its buying power to negotiate better prices for hundreds of hospital medicines.

The adoption of cheaper versions of a single drug – adalimumab – which is used to treat more than 45,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, has accounted for about one third of the savings. NHS England

Covid: UK hospital cases set to rise, says health chief

Covid: UK hospital cases set to rise, says health chief The number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is expected to rise further, the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency has said.

Hospital cases and infections are down on earlier highs but Dame Jenny Harries told the BBC there could still be an impact on treating other patients.

Her warning comes after figures showed UK Covid cases jumped by 32% in a week. BBC News

See also:

• Special Covid leave scrapped for NHS England staff BBC News
• Covid infecting one in 30 in the UK, says ONS BBC News
• Are Covid restrictions STILL on the cards? Boris says no plans for curbs 'at the moment' The Daily Mail
• Will Covid drug Evusheld be offered to vulnerable Britons who don't respond to vaccine? The Daily Mail
• Children with 'long Covid' actually have a mental illness, suggest health chiefs The Daily Mail
• End of special Covid leave for NHS staff in England branded ‘unacceptable’ The Guardian
• UK health chiefs brace for ‘bumpy ride’ amid fears over Covid wave The Guardian
• What’s the UK’s booster policy ahead of a feared autumn Covid wave? The Guardian
• Where’s the herd immunity? Our research shows why Covid is still wreaking havoc | Danny Altmann The Guardian
• Top Covid symptom revealed by new data as cases surge in UK The Independent
• Update Covid vaccines to target variants, experts urge, as cases rise The Independent
• Government to cut enhanced sick pay for NHS staff off work with Covid The Independent
• Warning early flu wave could join Covid surge and monkeypox outbreak in triple threat The Independent
• Leading GP warns Covid-19 infections 'here with a vengeance' ITV News
• Government may need to rethink its strategy on living with COVID if summer surge continues Sky News

Dame Deborah James death prompts more bowel-cancer checks

Dame Deborah James death prompts more bowel-cancer checks Thousands more people visited their bowel-cancer symptoms page this week following the death of Dame Deborah James, according to NHS figures.

The number of page visits rose from 2,000 on Tuesday to 23,000 on Wednesday, after the family announced her death on Tuesday evening.

Dame Deborah, who was 40, had bowel cancer since 2016. BBC News

See also:

• Dame Deborah James helps more people check signs of cancer NHS England

Woman suffering mental health crisis left waiting eight days in A&E

Woman suffering mental health crisis left waiting eight days in A&E An 18-year-old woman suffering a mental health crisis was forced to wait eight-and-a-half days in A&E before getting a bed in a psychiatric hospital – believed to be the longest such wait seen in the NHS.

Louise (not her real name) had to be looked after by the police and security guards and sleep in a chair and on a mattress of the floor in the A&E at St Helier hospital in Sutton, south London, because no bed was available in a mental health facility. The Guardian

See also:

• ‘Dejected and desperate’: the ordeal of a mental health patient left in limbo The Guardian

Paramedics set up units inside A&E to ease long queues

Paramedics set up units inside A&E to ease long queues Paramedics have begun looking after patients inside an A&E unit, in an initiative by the health service to stop ambulances queueing outside hospitals and ease the strain on overstretched casualty staff.

The scheme has led to patients being handed over much more quickly at a hospital that was one of the worst in England for sick people being stuck, sometimes for many hours, in the back of an ambulance. The Guardian

Boris Johnson faces investigation into claims over 40 ‘new’ hospitals

Boris Johnson faces investigation into claims over 40 ‘new’ hospitals The government’s official spending watchdog is to launch an inquiry into Boris Johnson’s claim that 40 new hospitals will be built by 2030, as concerns grow in Whitehall that the pledge is unaffordable and has been greatly oversold to the public.

In a move that could prove hugely embarrassing for the prime minister, the independent National Audit Office (NAO) has decided to conduct a “value for money review” into the entire scheme, which was a cornerstone of the Conservative party’s 2019 general election manifesto. The Guardian

See also:

• Boris Johnson's 40 new hospitals pledge faces investigation by spending watchdog Sky News

Soaring fuel bills add to to 'dire' cost pressures facing NHS

Soaring fuel bills add to to 'dire' cost pressures facing NHS Hospitals across Britain face rises in power bills running into millions of pounds as the spiralling cost of living crisis hits NHS trusts.

As household fuel bills climb to unprecedented levels, the health service also faces soaring charges as a result of the escalating cost pressures.

A survey of NHS trusts across England and Scotland shows they are facing rises of up to £29 million in the three financial years to date. Metro

Want to see an actual GP and have a face-to-face appointment? You've only got a one in four chance

Want to see an actual GP and have a face-to-face appointment? You've only got a one in four chance Just a quarter of GP appointments in England are face-to-face and with an actual doctor, MailOnline can reveal.

Critics have warned general practice is heading down a 'slippery slope' where nurses and other staff are picking up the burden amid crippling staffing shortages.

An NHS source told The Daily Mail that of the 27.5 million GP appointments carried out across England in May, just 27 per cent were both in-person and with a qualified doctor.

See also:

• Letting doctors WFH to do the 'school run' could help solve GP crisis, expert claims The Daily Mail
• GP workforce shrank by 116 in May as appointments rose by 3.6m GPonline
• Government's short-term, top-down approach won't solve GP crisis, experts warn GPonline
• The Observer view on Britain’s shortage of GPs | editorial The Observer

Could haemophilia be 'cured' by a new gene therapy that costs £2.5million per jab?

Could haemophilia be 'cured' by a new gene therapy that costs £2.5million per jab? A genetic drug hailed as 'close to a cure' for the deadly bleeding disorder haemophilia has been given the green light by European health watchdogs.

In trials, a single jab of Roctavian left nine in ten patients symptom-free and no longer in need of the daily injections usually required to control their condition.

Last week the European Medicines Agency, the equivalent of the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, approved the treatment, opening the door for its widespread use here. The Daily Mail 

Northampton General Hospital awarded £20.6 million Government grant to replace fossil fuel heating

Northampton General Hospital awarded £20.6 million Government grant to replace fossil fuel heating Northampton General Hospital (NGH) has been awarded a multi-million pound Government grant to replace fossil fuel heating with more renewable sources.

The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy announced the £20.6 million grant as part of its public sector decarbonisation schemes, which aim to reduce emissions from public sector buildings by 75 percent by 2037. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Kettering General Hospital achieves green travel award Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire population rises by 13.5% shows census

Northamptonshire population rises by 13.5% shows census Northamptonshire's population has grown by 13.5% in the past 10 years, results of the 2021 census from the Office for National Statistics have shown. BBC Northampton

What do NHS leaders want from the health disparities white paper?

What do NHS leaders want from the health disparities white paper? Ahead of the publication of the health disparities white paper, NHS Confederation members have identified four priorities in a briefing they hope it will reflect. These priorities are: health equity in all policies, incentivise prevention, inclusive innovation, integration and access and action on the cost-of-living crisis for communities. NHS Confederation

PSNC Pharmacy Advice Audit 2022

PSNC Pharmacy Advice Audit 2022 This year’s audit report finds that more than 1.2 million consultations a week – or 65 million a year – are now being carried out by community pharmacy teams in England. The audit of over 4,000 community pharmacies, carried out earlier this year, recorded 82,872 informal patient consultations, with the average pharmacy completing 19 consultations per day. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:

Surveillance indicators suggest that, at a national level, COVID-19 activity has increased in several indicators in week 25 of 2022.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) increased in England to 382 in week 25, compared to 261 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency

Guidance: Who can issue fit notes: guidance for healthcare professionals and their employers

Guidance: Who can issue fit notes: guidance for healthcare professionals and their employers Guidance to provide advice to doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and their employers about certifying fit notes. Department of Health and Social Care

New treatments to tackle pandemic of drug-resistant infections

New treatments to tackle pandemic of drug-resistant infections New treatments to tackle drug-resistant infections that pose the greatest threat to global health are to be developed following a multi-million-pound investment by the UK government.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – where serious infections have evolved so much that antibiotics and other current treatments are no longer effective – is a silent killer costing millions of lives across the world a year, with one in five of these deaths in children under the age of 5. Department of Health and Social Care

Patients to benefit following clinical research boost

Patients to benefit following clinical research boost Patients across the UK will benefit from a super-charged clinical research system, backed by £175 million of dedicated investment, which will save lives across the country.

The UK-wide plan published on Thursday 30th June, will enable innovative research to be carried out more quickly, helping patients access cutting-edge treatments sooner, speeding up diagnosis and helping to bust the Covid backlogs. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery: 2022 to 2025 implementation plan Department of Health and Social Care

Help 999 teams find missing heart defibrillators

Help 999 teams find missing heart defibrillators Ambulance services are appealing for the public's help to find 70,000 defibrillator devices scattered in community locations across the UK.

The machines can be a life-saver for people having a cardiac arrest.

Most of the devices, which deliver an electric shock to get the heart pumping properly, will be in public places such as sports clubs and supermarkets.

The emergency services, helped by Ordnance Survey and the British Heart Foundation, want to map the locations. BBC News

Pride: Stay at home if you have monkeypox symptoms

Pride: Stay at home if you have monkeypox symptoms London's top public-health doctor is urging anyone with monkeypox symptoms not to attend Pride events this weekend.

Prof Kevin Fenton said people needed to watch out for unusual rashes, blisters, fevers and swollen glands.

There have been more than 1,000 confirmed monkeypox cases in the UK since 6 May, the latest official figures show. BBC News

See also:

• Public health advice for gatherings during the current monkeypox outbreak World Health Organization
• 'I never thought it would be something that I would get' BBC News
• Monkeypox shows that if we can’t talk openly about sex and disease, bigots will The Guardian
• Monkeypox mutating 12 times faster than expected amid warning UK cases could hit ‘60,000 a day’ The Independent
• 'Sustained transmission' of monkeypox risks vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children and the immunocompromised, warns WHO Sky News

Covid fifth wave: Hospitals bring back masks on wards just weeks after rules relaxed

Covid fifth wave: Hospitals bring back masks on wards just weeks after rules relaxed Hospitals are bringing back requirements for masks on wards just weeks after rules were relaxed as Covid rates spike, The Independent can reveal.

Experts have warned of a surge in cases, believed to be the fifth wave, with one in 40 people in the UK testing positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, latest NHS data shows more than 8,000 Covid-positive patients on wards following a warning of a “deleterious” impact on hospital waiting times.

See also:

• What pandemic? Isolated British island that still hasn't had one Covid case The Daily Mail
• Unequal impact of COVID-19 'utterly predictable' amid rising inequality, says Marmot GPonline
• Doctors treat first UK patient in Covid ‘super donor’ blood trial The Guardian
• Yes, the number of Covid cases in the UK is rising – but that is no cause for alarm Matt Hancock The Guardian
• How Long Until Covid Cases Start To Go Down Again? Huffington Post UK
• Covid infection rates in UK approach record high amid wave of cases after Glastonbury The Independent
• Will there be another lockdown? Why rising Covid cases in the UK are unlikely to spark new restrictions iNews
• COVID infections rise in 110 countries as WHO's director general warns pandemic is far from over Sky News

High-street blood checks promised in NHS England shake-up

High-street blood checks promised in NHS England shake-up blood checks will be available in betting shops and specialists in children’s mental health drafted in to GP surgeries in some parts of England as part of a major shake-up of the NHS.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS England’s chief executive, pledged that 42 new “integrated care systems” (ICSs) launched on Friday would “transform” how healthcare is provided and cut avoidable deaths. The Guardian

NHS ambulance of the future? Experts claim this sleek vehicle could revolutionise the aging fleet

NHS ambulance of the future? Experts claim this sleek vehicle could revolutionise the aging fleet An electric ambulance which uses Formula 1 technology and is fitted with X-ray machines could be coming to a hospital near you.

The sleek six-wheeler Integro-E can go twice as fast as the NHS' current fleet of vans and is kitted out with all of the medical gear needed to 'bring the hospital to patients'.

There has been a drive in the NHS towards more eco-friendly vehicles over the past decade, with health bosses insisting on making the health service carbon neutral by 2045. The Daily Mail 

Fresh call for people in Northamptonshire to get their Covid-19 vaccinations

Fresh call for people in Northamptonshire to get their Covid-19 vaccinations As infection levels rise in Northamptonshire, the NHS is urging those eligible for Covid-19 vaccinations to come forward as soon as possible.

People aged 75 and over or 12 and over with a weakened immune system are particularly being reminded to get a spring booster vaccine. Northamptonshire Telegraph

More than a quarter of GP and general practice nursing posts could be vacant in 10 years

More than a quarter of GP and general practice nursing posts could be vacant in 10 years New analysis published today by the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre warns that without urgent, significant policy action, the NHS in England is facing a crippling shortage of GPs and general practice nurses over the coming decade. 

The REAL Centre’s projections show that the shortage of qualified, permanent GPs is set to get substantially worse over this decade. The Health Foundation

See also: 

• Projections: General practice workforce in England The Health Foundation
• Royal College of GPs response to Health Foundation report warning of escalating crisis in general practice Royal College of General Practitioners
• Quarter of GP posts vacant within a decade in England, study warns BBC News
• NHS on course for shortfall of 11,000 GPs within a decade GPonline
• NHS faces 'disastrous' shortfall of 10000 GPs by 2030, report warns The Independent

Policy paper: A plan for digital health and social care

Policy paper: A plan for digital health and social care The plan for digital health and social care sets out a vision for a digitally enabled health and social care system and how we can achieve it – it collates existing digital strategies, plans and guidance into one single action plan. Department of Health and Social Care

Archie Battersbee parents win appeal to reconsider case

Archie Battersbee parents win appeal to reconsider case The parents of a 12-year-old boy at the centre of a life support dispute have won an appeal for his case to be heard again.

Archie Battersbee was found unconscious at his home in Southend, Essex, on 7 April.

A High Court judge previously ruled Archie was dead and told doctors they could end his life support treatment. BBC News

NHS cancer care's 'culture of over treatment' is wasting time and money, report reveals

NHS cancer care's 'culture of over treatment' is wasting time and money, report reveals The NHS is wasting time and money due to a ‘culture of overtreatment’ in cancer care, a report has revealed.

An All-Party Parliamentary Group paper released on Tuesday on minimally invasive cancer treatments (MICTs) found only 10 per cent of cancer patients are offered non-invasive treatments. The Independent

NHS privatisation drive linked to rise in avoidable deaths, study suggests

NHS privatisation drive linked to rise in avoidable deaths, study suggests The privatisation of NHS care accelerated by Tory policies a decade ago has corresponded with a decline in quality and “significantly increased” rates of death from treatable causes, the first study of its kind says. The Guardian

See also:

• Outsourcing health-care services to the private sector and treatable mortality rates in England, 2013–20: an observational study of NHS privatisation (open access) The Lancet Public Health

Coroner issues warning on NHS mental health services after girl’s suicide

Coroner issues warning on NHS mental health services after girl’s suicide A coroner has said Britain is failing young people and more will die because of under-resourced mental health services, as she ruled that neglect led to the death of a 14-year-old girl.

Penelope Schofield, the senior coroner for West Sussex, said she would write to the health secretary, Sajid Javid, to raise concerns after the case of Robyn Skilton, who killed herself after being let down by “gross failures” in NHS mental health services. The Guardian

Doctors condemn sexism and racism within the British Medical Association

Doctors condemn sexism and racism within the British Medical Association Britain's doctors have slammed their own union, the British Medical Association, for being sexist and racist.     

At their yearly meeting in Brighton yesterday, members passed a motion that it was union was 'failing to value and support female members and members from minority groups including BAME, IMG (international medical graduates) and locum doctors'.  The Daily Mail

Seeing the same GP is good for your health... but only HALF of patients are able to do so

Seeing the same GP is good for your health... but only HALF of patients are able to do so Only half of NHS patients regularly get to see the same GP — even though it's better for their health, it emerged today.

Queen Mary University of London experts looked at appointments given to 1million adults registered at 126 GP practices in east London.

Just 52 per cent frequently saw the same family doctor, results showed. The Daily Mail

 

See also:

• Measuring continuity of care in general practice: a comparison of two methods using routinely collected data (open access) British Journal of General Practice

Why should health policy matter to clinical staff?

Why should health policy matter to clinical staff? Transformation in health and care can only really happen when clinical staff working with patients are connected to the wider health policy context. The King's Fund

Was the NHS overwhelmed last winter?

Was the NHS overwhelmed last winter? Throughout the pandemic, politicians and other policymakers have emphasised the need to protect the NHS from collapse or overwhelm: even before Covid-19, the health service struggled to stay above water given worsening capacity, staffing and demand issues, especially during the colder months. So what happened to urgent and emergency hospital care last winter, when another wave of the virus hit the country during a time when it would be stretched to its absolute limits even absent of a pandemic? The Nuffield Trust

Getting the best out of remote consulting in general practice – practical challenges and policy opportunities

Getting the best out of remote consulting in general practice – practical challenges and policy opportunities The Covid-19 pandemic triggered a very sudden and widespread shift to remote consulting in general practice. While many patients and clinicians have welcomed the convenience, quality and safety of remote consulting, inherent tensions still exist in choosing between remote and face-to-face care when capacity is constrained. This new Nuffield Trust report explores the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with this technological shift, and the practical and policy implications of recent learning.

See also:

• Remote GP consultations here to stay but are not a fix for all ills Nuffield Trust

Improving population health outcomes with integrated data sets

Improving population health outcomes with integrated data sets Using a population health and care management programme and an integrated data set has enabled Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust to strengthen its focus on health inequalities through identifying and targeting patient cohorts by geography, demographic variables and health indicators. NHS Confederation

Digital revolution to bust Covid backlogs and deliver more tailored care for patients

Digital revolution to bust Covid backlogs and deliver more tailored care for patients People across the country will benefit from faster, more personalised healthcare, following a digital revolution to make the health and social care system fit for the 21st century.

The Plan for Digital Health and Social Care, published today (Wednesday 29 June), sets out the government’s ambitious vision for transforming health and care with digital technology – which give patients access to quicker and more effective care at their fingertips and will save the health and care systems time and money. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS App given new features for digital revolution BBC News
• More healthcare to go online in England under digitisation plan The Guardian

Covid: Terms of inquiry into UK pandemic response finalised

Covid: Terms of inquiry into UK pandemic response finalised Boris Johnson has announced the launch of the Covid public inquiry and finalised its terms of reference.

Sessions will take place across the UK from next year as it aims to identify lessons from the government's handling of the pandemic.

It comes days after bereaved families warned they could take legal action against the government over delays. BBC News

See also:

• Covid hospital patients in England up by 37 per cent The Independent
• Are pockets of Covid in the gut causing long-term symptoms? The Guardian
• Delayed public inquiry into UK’s Covid-19 response opens The Guardian
• Covid fifth wave: Hospitals bring back masks on wards just weeks after rules relaxed The Independent
• COVID-19 fattens up our body's cells to help fuel its viral takeover, study suggests Sky News
• COVID an 'inconvenience' rather than 'life-threatening' for many now, says WHO Sky News

Southend hospital nurses quitting due to 'toxic' conditions

Southend hospital nurses quitting due to 'toxic' conditions A whistleblower is warning that staff are leaving Southend University Hospital's emergency department due to "toxic" working conditions.

The experienced A&E nurse claimed staff felt "completely broken" and "helpless and unsupported".

She claimed about 15 nurses had recently left to work in different departments or even quit the NHS. BBC News

Falling NHS continuity of care poses ‘existential threat’ to patient safety

Falling NHS continuity of care poses ‘existential threat’ to patient safety Rapidly falling continuity of care levels pose an “existential threat” to patient safety, Britain’s top family doctor will warn today as research reveals only half of Britons regularly see the same GP.

Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), will say trusted relationships between family doctors and patients are the most “powerful intervention” for delivering effective, high-quality care as they boost patient satisfaction and health outcomes, and reduce use of hospital services. The Guardian

Monkeypox: UK cases hit more than 1,000

Monkeypox: UK cases hit more than 1,000 Monkeypox cases have hit more than 1,000 across the UK, as public health officials send a warning over large summer events.

Cases of the virus are surging nationally with 1,076 cases confirmed on Monday - up by 166 on Friday 24 June.

UK Health Security Agency, which will be publishing updates twice weekly, said it expects to confirm more cases in the coming days. The Independent

See also:

• Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UK Health Security Agency
• UK's monkeypox outbreak passes 1,000 cases as gloomy model warns of doomsday scenario The Daily Mail

NHS 'virtual wards' to treat 500000 more people by next year to free up hospital beds

NHS 'virtual wards' to treat 500000 more people by next year to free up hospital beds Half a million more patients will be treated at home in “virtual wards” next year freeing up hospital beds and doctors’ time, according to the Government’s vision for a modern NHS.

Patients will also have easier access to their own records thanks to the updated NHS app as part of digital reforms ministers say will deliver benefits over the next decade that could save billions in taxpayers’ money while also promoting economic growth and private investment. iNews 

Covid pandemic not over warns Northamptonshire health experts

Covid pandemic not over warns Northamptonshire health experts Health experts have warned the Covid-19 pandemic "isn't over", as a county saw cases rise by 20% in a week and an increase in people going to hospital.

In the week to 22 June, Northamptonshire has 886 cases, up from 736 in the previous week.

The county's two councils said two new subvariants of Omicron appeared to be more infectious than other variants. BBC Northampton

Kettering General Hospital medics honoured at professional excellence awards

Kettering General Hospital medics honoured at professional excellence awards The professional excellence of medical students, junior doctors and consultants at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) has been celebrated with an annual award. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Shared decision making from the perspective of clinicians and healthcare professionals

Shared decision making from the perspective of clinicians and healthcare professionals This report finds healthcare professionals are positive about shared decision making — a way of working with patients to decide treatment options. But the report also finds professionals’ ability to practice shared decision making regularly is limited by the current crisis in the NHS. The report makes a number of recommendations and the Patients Association will now look to partner with NHS England, the Personalised Care Institute and other organisations to support professionals' call for more support to practice shared decision making. Patients Association

Building a supportive and empowering first 1,000 days of life

Building a supportive and empowering first 1,000 days of life An innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership in Birmingham works with partners to support long-term emotional and physical wellbeing and resilience among children in the first 1,000 days of life. NHS Confederation

Better mental health support for people in crisis

Better mental health support for people in crisis Patients to benefit from new mental health ambulances and improvements to crisis care backed by £150 million as draft Mental Health Bill moves to next stage. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Draft Mental Health Bill 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Reforms to the Mental Health Act welcome, but need scrutiny Mind
• Draft Mental Health Bill important step towards badly needed reform NHS Confederation
• Mental health announcements welcome, but more is needed NHS Providers
• Mental Health Act one step closer to reform Rethink Mental Illness
• Guide to the draft Mental Health Bill Community Care
• Sajid Javid announces 'once in a lifetime reform' to protect autistic people The Daily Mail

Sewage in water - a growing public health problem

Sewage in water - a growing public health problem A joint opinion piece from Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, Jonson Cox, Ofwat chair and Emma Howard Boyd, Environment Agency chair. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-booster response hope for most vulnerable

Covid-booster response hope for most vulnerable More than a million vulnerable people could improve their protection against Covid by taking a short break from medication after a booster jab, a trial suggests.

It found stopping the common immune-suppressing drug methotrexate for two weeks doubled spike antibody levels for up to 12 weeks.

Some people experienced disease flare-ups but no impact on quality of life. BBC News

See also:

• Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial (open access) The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
• No10 confirms it's watching emergence of two Omicron sub-variants responsible for UK Covid comeback The Daily Mail
• Possible link between blood clots and Covid symptoms investigated The Guardian

Warnings of mental health crisis among ‘Covid generation’ of students

Warnings of mental health crisis among ‘Covid generation’ of students The pandemic has had a lasting legacy on the mental health of the “Covid generation” of students, exacerbating rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm and resulting in a “significant rise” in young people struggling at university, experts have said. The Guardian

UK doctors demand pay rise of up to 30% over five years

UK doctors demand pay rise of up to 30% over five years Doctors have thrown down the gauntlet to the government by calling for a pay rise of up to 30% over the next five years, in a move that increases the chances of strike action.

Delegates at the British Medical Association’s (BMA) annual conference voted to press ministers to agree to the increase to make up for real-terms cuts to their salaries over the last 14 years. The Guardian

See also:

• Doctors warn of industrial action amid pay squeeze BBC News
• Doctors want a 30 PER CENT pay rise amid threat of NHS strikes The Daily Mail
• BMA to demand significant pay rises to combat 15 years of real-term cuts GPonline
• Doctors mull strike action over ‘30% real-terms pay cut since 2008’ The Independent
• NHS strike is likely to be the only way staff can restore 'millions' in lost pay, doctors warn iNews

London NHS hospital trusts in row over £190m rebuilding scheme

London NHS hospital trusts in row over £190m rebuilding scheme An extraordinary row has broken out between two NHS hospital trusts, with one accusing the other of endangering the safety of seriously ill patients through a £190m development scheme.

University College London hospital (UCLH) claims Great Ormond Street (GOSH) children’s hospital’s rebuilding of its ageing site will lead to patients being denied time-critical care because they will become stuck in ambulances trapped in construction site traffic. The Guardian

NHS medical students are now training on HOLOGRAMS to practice treating anaphylaxis and pneumonia

NHS medical students are now training on HOLOGRAMS to practice treating anaphylaxis and pneumonia Patient holograms are to be used to train British medical students in a world-first.

Medics at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge will wear virtual reality headsets and treat life-like 3D patients as part of their training.

The pioneering technology will be used to teach a range of modules, starting with respiratory and emergency medicine. The Daily Mail

Health chiefs issue fresh advice after new Covid variants lead to rise in hospitalisations in Northamptonshire

Health chiefs issue fresh advice after new Covid variants lead to rise in hospitalisations in Northamptonshire Public health officials have reminded the public that Covid-19 has not gone away after to new variants of the virus have emerged in Northamptonshire, leading to an increase in hospital admittances. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• 'Covid-19 hasn’t gone away' say Northants health bosses as infection rates rise again Northants Live

A reflective learning framework for partnering: insights from the early work of the Healthy Communities Together partnerships

A reflective learning framework for partnering: insights from the early work of the Healthy Communities Together partnerships As integrated care systems develop, NHS, local authority and voluntary sector organisations working in health and care in England are coming together and working in partnership to improve the health and wellbeing of local populations. But what does it take to ensure these new partnerships succeed? Here we offer a framework for reflective learning that partners can use together. The King's Fund

What is Scotland’s new National Care Service?

What is Scotland’s new National Care Service? The Scottish government this week published landmark legislation to support its vision of social care reform. It will see a new national body, the National Care Service, being formed to set standards and commissioning priorities for delivery by newly established local care boards. Nuffield Trust

Integration and innovation in action: population health

Integration and innovation in action: population health This report shows how health and care systems are connecting people, place and power structures to establish partnerships that are sharing power and decision-making – creating healthier, resilient and empowered communities. It spotlights some of these examples, demonstrating how health and care organisations are working in new and different ways to improve population health. It concludes that local health and care systems need to reset their focus to cultivate the conditions for health creation through asset-based community health development. NHS Confederation

Men urged to talk about mental health to prevent suicide

Men urged to talk about mental health to prevent suicide The Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, set out actions being taken to prevent suicides and urged men to talk about their mental health in a speech at suicide prevention charity Papyrus’s headquarters in London today, Friday 24 June 2022. Department of Health and Social Care

UKHSA urges those with new or multiple sexual partners to be vigilant as monkeypox outbreak grows

UKHSA urges those with new or multiple sexual partners to be vigilant as monkeypox outbreak grows The UK Health Security Agency has published its second technical briefing on the ongoing monkeypox outbreak. The briefing shares UKHSA analyses with public health investigators and academic partners.

The latest epidemiological data, findings from interviews with patients and preliminary analyses are included to understand how the outbreak is evolving and to inform timely and effective public health interventions.

See also:

• Research: Monkeypox outbreak: epidemiological overview UK Health Security Agency 
• Guidance: Monkeypox: background information UK Health Security Agency 

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency is reminding people to ensure their COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date and to continue following COVID-safe behaviours, as latest technical data indicates BA.4 and BA.5 have become dominant in the UK and are driving the recent increase in infections.

UK sees another jump in Covid infections

UK sees another jump in Covid infections Covid infections are continuing to rise in the UK, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

The data suggests about 1.7 million people were estimated to have Covid in the week ending 18 June.

This is about one in 35 people - an increase of 23% on the week before.

Experts say two new fast-spreading subvariants of Omicron - called BA.4 and BA.5 - are likely to be driving new infections. BBC News

See also:

• How many cases in your area? BBC News
• Sir Jonathan Van-Tam: I don't wear a face mask anymore BBC News
• Covid's comeback sees outbreak grow by a fifth as admissions hit 1,000 for first time since April The Daily Mail
• Over-75s urged to check when they last had a Covid vaccine as cases rise The Daily Telegraph
• Britain is being hit by a new wave of Covid – so what do we do now? The Guardian
• Can our mitochondria help to beat long Covid? The Guardian
• Johnson faces possible legal action over delay to Covid public inquiry The Guardian
• Covid UK: Calls for booster jabs by Autumn as cases continue to rise The Independent
• Covid: UK in ‘fifth wave already’ as experts warn summer events will see infections surge even higher The Independent

Polio: Virus found in London prompts misleading vaccine claims

Polio: Virus found in London prompts misleading vaccine claims Claims are spreading online about what the detection of the polio virus in London sewage means.

Health officials believe the polio they found in sewage samples may have been brought to the UK by someone who was vaccinated abroad with a live form of the virus.

But misleading posts, shared on Twitter and on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, are suggesting that vaccines in general can cause disease outbreaks. BBC News

See also:

• Polio confusion as parents CAN'T tell if their children have been vaccinated The Daily Mail
• From monkeypox to polio, here’s why so many viruses are attacking the UK The Daily Telegraph
• Polio outbreak is ‘jolt’ needed to tackle falling child vaccine uptake ‘before it’s too late’, expert warns The Independent
• What is polio and what happened the last time there was an epidemic in the UK? The Independent
• Polio: Should we be worried about virus found in London sewage? New Scientist

Roe v Wade: US Supreme Court strikes down abortion rights

Roe v Wade: US Supreme Court strikes down abortion rights Millions of women in the US will lose the constitutional right to abortion, after the Supreme Court overturned its 50-year-old Roe v Wade decision.

The judgement paves the way for individual states to ban the procedure.

Half are expected to introduce new restrictions or bans. Thirteen have already passed so-called trigger laws to automatically outlaw abortion.

President Joe Biden described it as "a tragic error" and urged states to enact laws to allow the procedure. BBC News

See also:

• US Supreme Court decision to revoke abortion rights condemned by leading global healthcare organisations Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Roe v Wade: The world reacts to US abortion ruling BBC News
• Roe v Wade: Abortion clinics start to close after Supreme Court ruling BBC News
• Roe v Wade: US firms pledge to pay staff travel expenses for abortions BBC News
• Roe v Wade: Fears women will turn to dangerous illegal abortions after US Supreme Court decision The Daily Mail
• Protests resume nationwide for second day following end of Roe v. Wade The Daily Mail
• The supreme court just overturned Roe v Wade – what happens next? The Guardian
• What is Roe v Wade and why was it overturned? The Independent
• After Roe v. Wade: US researchers warn of what’s to come Nature
• Roe v Wade: How did we get here? Sky News

Government aims to tackle racial disparities with mental health reforms

Government aims to tackle racial disparities with mental health reforms The Government is aiming to tackle racial disparities and better meet the needs of those with learning difficulties as it unveils proposed reforms to mental health services.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) published the draft of the Mental Health Bill on Monday. The Independent

NHS England ‘set to eliminate two-year waiting lists’ by July

NHS England ‘set to eliminate two-year waiting lists’ by July NHS England is poised to “virtually eliminate” the list of those who have waited more than two years for treatment, its chief executive has said, as patients are given the option to be treated more quickly at hospitals in different parts of the country.

The number of people who have waited for two years or more to receive treatment has fallen from a peak of 22,500 in January to 6,700, after the Covid-19 pandemic caused waiting lists to mount. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS patients to be offered chance to travel for surgery BBC News
• 500,000 wait for ear, nose and throat treatment after PM has NHS operation The Guardian
• NHS crisis caused by Tory underfunding not Covid, say doctors The Guardian
• NHS: Patients asked to travel for hospital treatment in NHS 'final push' to 'eliminate two-year waiters' Sky News

NHS staff should get at least a 4% pay rise say independent experts

NHS staff should get at least a 4% pay rise say independent experts NHS staff should receive a pay rise of at least 4%, independent experts have advised, setting healthcare workers on a collision course with ministers who have set a firm maximum of 3%.

The pay review body (PRB) will recommend that NHS personnel should an increase this year of somewhere between 4% and 5%, the Guardian understands, despite warnings from the government that undertaking such advice would break the bank.

Women STILL face excruciating contraceptive coil fittings

Women STILL face excruciating contraceptive coil fittings Women are having to endure excruciating contraceptive coil fittings without pain relief – being expected to 'just grit their teeth and cope', experts have warned.

The alert comes despite new guidance issued by health chiefs last year recommending that women should always be offered 'appropriate analgesia' before the procedure, which involves inserting a small T-shaped device, about half the length of a cotton bud, into the womb. The Daily Mail 

Cervical Screening Awareness Week: Figures show one in three Northamptonshire are not having smear tests

Cervical Screening Awareness Week: Figures show one in three Northamptonshire are not having smear tests Nearly one in three Northamptonshire women are regularly skipping routine smear tests which can detect early stages of cancer.

Charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust believes many are avoiding the straightforward procedures through fear, embarrassment, or a lack of understanding of what they involve. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General: New critical care unit prepares for first patients

Northampton General: New critical care unit prepares for first patients A new critical care unit, designed with the experience of the Covid pandemic, is preparing for its first referrals.

The 16-bed unit at Northampton General Hospital cost £15.9m and will offer round-the-clock care for the most vulnerable patients.

It includes special isolation rooms as well as space for relatives to stay and sleep close to loved ones. BBC Northampton

Hormone replacement therapy prescriptions rise 42% in one year

Hormone replacement therapy prescriptions rise 42% in one year Shortages of hormone replacement therapy products have been in the news recently, and the number of prescription items in England related to HRT have doubled over the last seven years. John Appleby shows how a large part of this increase was during 2021/22. Nuffield Trust

Changing lives, changing places, changing systems: making progress on social prescribing

Changing lives, changing places, changing systems: making progress on social prescribing This report explores what needs to happen to engage a wider set of stakeholders with planning, funding and delivering social prescribing services and the community activities, groups and services upon which they rely across places and within new Integrated Care Systems. It explores the structures needed to support collaborative planning and delivery and how improving data flows could encourage more partners to get involved. It also describes how communication about social prescribing can be improved to make clearer how it fits into wider plans for transforming health and care across communities and supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing. National Voices

Interim bulletin: harm caused by delays in transferring patients to the right place of care

Interim bulletin: harm caused by delays in transferring patients to the right place of care This investigation explores issues around patient handover to emergency care. This bulletin outlines early investigation findings and recommends a national response to tackle this issue. Findings so far emphasise that an effective response should consider the interactions of the whole system: an end-to-end approach that does not just focus on one area of health care and prioritises patient safety. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

Re:Birth summary report

Re:Birth summary report This project worked with representatives from across maternity care, including staff, advocacy groups and service users. It advises that midwives and obstetricians put the needs and wishes of women at the heart of all conversations about their care. The report recommends that maternity staff should follow the five As: acknowledge, ask, affirm, avoid and annotate. Royal College of Midwives

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.  UK Health Security Agency

Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation

Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation The UK Health Security Agency is continuing to investigate and confirm cases of sudden onset hepatitis in children aged 10 and under that have been identified since January 2022.

Working alongside Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency, active investigations have identified a further 7 confirmed cases since the last update on 17 June, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 258, as of 21 June.

Birmingham hospital faces criminal probe after death of vulnerable man

Birmingham hospital faces criminal probe after death of vulnerable man A hospital and one of its managers are facing a criminal investigation into the death of a vulnerable man who absconded by climbing a fence.

An inquest concluded failings amounting to neglect contributed to the death of Matthew Caseby in 2020, after he fled from Birmingham's Priory Hospital Woodbourne and was hit by a train.

The investigation will be carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). BBC News

100,000s of children not fully vaccinated against polio, figures show

100,000s of children not fully vaccinated against polio, figures show Thousands of children across England are not fully protected against polio, with booster uptake lagging by 50 per cent in some parts of the country, government data show.

Some 101,737 children had not received a booster jab by their fifth birthday in 2020/21, out of a total of 693,928. Around a third of all these unprotected five-year-olds (34,105) were in London. The Independent

See also:

• Polio: What is it and how does it spread? BBC News
• A feared disease which paralysed tens of thousands of children: Polio's history laid bare The Daily Mail
• Polio confusion as NHS cannot tell who has been vaccinated The Daily Telegraph
• Polio: ‘Possible’ source of virus could be traced back to single household, says minister The Independent
• How to check if you’ve had your polio vaccine and what to do if you haven’t The Independent
• Why we don’t need to panic about the return of polio iNews

NHS unions warn of industrial unrest over expected 3% pay rise

NHS unions warn of industrial unrest over expected 3% pay rise Ministers are likely to face a fresh outbreak of industrial unrest if, as expected, the government accepts a well-below inflation pay rise for NHS workers, unions and professional groups have warned.

Even if there are no strikes over a pay offer at around the expected 3% level, some said another cut in real-terms pay coupled with staff shortages and the legacy of Covid could simply prompt an exodus of workers, with one official calling the situation “a perfect storm for the NHS”. The Guardian

NHS hospital failed to disclose babies’ deadly bacteria infections

NHS hospital failed to disclose babies’ deadly bacteria infections A leading NHS hospital failed to publicly disclose that four very ill premature babies in its care were infected with a deadly bacterium, one of whom died soon after, the Guardian can reveal.

St Thomas’ hospital did not admit publicly that it had suffered an outbreak of Bacillus cereus in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of its Evelina children’s hospital in late 2013 and early 2014.

Did not acknowledge either the incident or infant’s death in any public forum. The Guardian

COVID-19 jab saved 20 million lives in its first year, study suggests

COVID-19 jab saved 20 million lives in its first year, study suggests About 20 million lives were saved by the COVID vaccine in its first year, according to new estimates.

Experts believe more deaths were prevented in richer countries, with 12.2 million saved in high and upper-middle income nations. Sky News

See also:

• Global impact of the first year of COVID-19 vaccination: a mathematical modelling study (open access) The Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Covid: Free lateral flow tests in Wales until 31 July BBC News
• Covid drug Paxlovid is NOT effective for people who have been vaccinated, Pfizer reveals The Daily Mail
• How widespread is long COVID in the UK? GPonline
• Britain is being swamped by yet another Covid wave – how can we stop them coming? The Guardian
• Covid-19: Hospital patients with coronavirus in the East of England is highest for six weeks ITV News
• NHS England sets out preliminary plans for autumn Covid boosters Pulse