Government's new hospitals pledge on shaky ground

Government's new hospitals pledge on shaky ground Plans for 40 new hospitals by 2030 are on shaky ground, NHS leaders have said, warning that delays are pushing up costs, denting staff morale and putting the safety of patients at risk.

Nearly two in three leaders who responded said delays to the programme affected their ability to deliver safe and effective patient care, with all those facing delays reporting cost implications. NHS Providers

See also:

• New Hospital Programme survey July 2022 NHS Providers
• Is the government going to build 48 new hospitals by 2030? Full Fact
• NHS hospital buildings risky and need repair, say trust bosses BBC News
• Plans to build 40 new hospitals in England ‘moving at a glacial pace’ The Guardian
• NHS chiefs warn patients will start being turned away due to delays in repairing hospital buildings iNews

The NHS: decline and fall, or resurrection?

The NHS: decline and fall, or resurrection? This briefing outlines how the NHS is struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic and rising demand for services. It describes a change programme that could reverse the decline, involving public health reform, the expansion of community health services and more. Social Market Foundation

Improving children and young people’s mental health services: Local data insights from England, Scotland and Wales

Improving children and young people’s mental health services: Local data insights from England, Scotland and Wales Across the UK, the number of children and young people experiencing mental health problems is growing.

Mental health services are expanding, but not fast enough to meet rising needs, leaving many children and young people with limited or no support. Too little is known about who receives care and crucially, who doesn’t.

This briefing presents analysis from the Health Foundation’s Networked Data Lab (NDL) about children and young people’s mental health. The analysis from local teams across England, Scotland and Wales has highlighted three key areas for urgent investigation, to help ensure children and young people get the care they need.

How the public thinks about health, and why it matters

How the public thinks about health, and why it matters Ask the public about health, and they often put the responsibility on the individual and the NHS.

And yet we know the context in which we live and make choices really matters. The context that governments, businesses, employers and investors have a big hand in shaping.  

Polling shows the public is increasingly seeing the government as having an important role to play in improving people's health, and there's public appetite to reduce the health inequalities highlighted by the pandemic. 

So how does the public think about health? And what can be done to engage local communities in improving health?  Podcast from The Health Foundation.

Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity

Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) was making some progress in increasing national participation in sport and physical activity until the impact of the pandemic reversed these gains. However, it needs to do more to reach key groups who are less likely to be active including women, the least affluent and Black and Asian people, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

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 26 of 2022.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) increased in England to 504 in week 26, compared to 382 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency

UK heatwave: Temperatures to hit low 30s as heat-health alert issued

UK heatwave: Temperatures to hit low 30s as heat-health alert issued Parts of the UK are predicted to experience a heatwave over the next few days, the Met Office has said.

Southern and eastern areas will see consistently high temperatures over the next week.

On Friday, parts of the country are predicted to hit 28C (82.4F) - beginning the run of hot days. BBC News

See also:

• Heat-health alert issued UK Health Security Agency
• Warning symptoms of heatstroke as heat-health alert issued Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England to be 'between 30 and 40 per cent smaller than current size'

NHS England to be 'between 30 and 40 per cent smaller than current size' The chief executive of NHS England has revealed that the organisation is expected to be between 30-40% “smaller than the current combined size of NHS England, Health Education England and NHS Digital” by the end of 2023/24. Digital Health

Government warned over ‘political paralysis’ as chiefs fear unavoidable NHS strikes

Government warned over ‘political paralysis’ as chiefs fear unavoidable NHS strikes Political paralysis is a threat to the NHS, leaders say as chiefs warn the government over crumbling hospitals and inevitable doctors’ strikes.

As the UK government faces political turmoil, health chiefs fear it will impact major decisions over NHS staff pay and funding for hospital buildings. The Independent

Cancer spending threatened if NHS staff given 3% pay rise without extra funds

Cancer spending threatened if NHS staff given 3% pay rise without extra funds The NHS will have to cut investment in cancer care if ministers award frontline staff a pay rise above 3% but refuse to provide extra money to cover it, health service bosses have warned.

The NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, and Julian Kelly, its chief financial officer, made clear their belief that soaring inflation means the service’s 1.3 million staff deserve a pay award of more than the 3% the government has already given the organisation funding to cover. The Guardian

See also:

• Cancer and GP service budgets could be cut for NHS staff pay rise The Independent

Calls for UK to stock up on antibody Covid drug that slashes risk of illness by up to 80%

Calls for UK to stock up on antibody Covid drug that slashes risk of illness by up to 80% Britain must urgently build up stocks of a Covid drug that could be a lifesaver for half a million extremely vulnerable Britons, campaigners say.

Evusheld, developed by AstraZeneca, will allow people who were less likely to get an immune response from the Covid vaccines to return to normal life, they claim.

The twice-yearly injection was approved by drug regulators in March after a study showed it slashed the risk of falling will with Covid by nearly 80 per cent. The Daily Mail

See also:

• HMP Lewes Covid measures 'not humane', says watchdog BBC News
• How will Boris Johnson’s handling of the Covid crisis be remembered? The Guardian
• NHS staff criticise 'incomprehensible' scrapping of special Covid leave The Independent
• NHS to enforce mask wearing as Covid hospital infections rise 100% The Independent
• Covid hospital patients nearing peak of spring wave The Independent
• UK Covid cases soar to record high as public vigilance slumps after Partygate scandal iNews
• COVID-19: New wave of Omicron mutations spreading across Europe, EU Medicines Agency warns Sky News

More than a MILLION teens in England now prescribed antidepressants - as experts blame lockdowns

More than a MILLION teens in England now prescribed antidepressants - as experts blame lockdowns More than a million prescriptions for antidepressants are written for teenagers in England each year, official figures suggest.

The number of drugs doled out to 13 to 19-year-olds rose by a quarter between 2016 and 2020, latest NHS data shows.

It includes prescriptions up to the end of 2020, following a year of national Covid lockdowns and school and university closures. The Daily Mail 

Kettering hospital boss says site is not fit for care

Kettering hospital boss says site is not fit for care The chief executive of a hospital has said the building is not in a condition "we should expect any of our nearest and dearest to receive care" in.

Kettering General Hospital chief executive Simon Weldon said the site was a "big hotchpotch of things" and the hospital required urgent attention.

But he said it was yet to receive government funding awarded in 2019. BBC Northampton

KGH patients take part in pioneering cancer pilot

KGH patients take part in pioneering cancer pilot Patients and staff at Kettering General Hospital are supporting important research into new ways of diagnosing cancer. Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Scared' Northampton mother with motor neurone disease criticises NHS after being denied treatment

'Scared' Northampton mother with motor neurone disease criticises NHS after being denied treatment A 47-year-old mother with motor neurone disease in Northampton has criticised the NHS after an assessment report she says is inaccurate left her with the care she says she needs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Improving the blood culture pathway: executive summary

Improving the blood culture pathway: executive summary This report into blood culture practices outlines key improvement steps in the pre-analytical phase of the blood culture pathway. Through targeted recommendations to trust chief executives, clinical and pathology staff, we have an opportunity to improve the blood culture pathway, antimicrobial stewardship and patient outcomes from sepsis. NHS England

Steve Barclay: What will new health secretary tackle first?

Steve Barclay: What will new health secretary tackle first? Steve Barclay has been named as the new health secretary following the resignation of Sajid Javid, who stepped down after saying he had lost faith in Boris Johnson's leadership.

He starts as secretary of state at a time when the NHS and social care in England are under serious pressure.

Amanda Pritchard, the head of NHS England, has warned that the next two years could be even tougher for the health service than the two years since the start of the pandemic. BBC News

Hepatitis in children: How many cases are there?

Hepatitis in children: How many cases are there? Health officials are continuing to investigate a sudden surge in cases of hepatitis or liver inflammation among young children in the UK and around the world.

Several possible causes are being looked at, but it looks likely that a common virus which usually causes colds, vomiting and diarrhoea has a role to play.

A return to normal social mixing after the pandemic could also be a factor. BBC News

Heat and cold ‘increase risk of death, but rates vary across England and Wales’

Heat and cold ‘increase risk of death, but rates vary across England and Wales’ Both heat and cold increase risk of death in England and Wales – but rates vary depending on geographical location, according to a new study.

New risk estimates suggest London and other urban areas had the highest heat-related death rate.

While cold-related deaths were highest in Northern England, Wales and the South West. The Independent

See also:

• Small-area assessment of temperature-related mortality risks in England and Wales: a case time series analysis (open access) The Lancet Planetary Health

Doctors to overhaul car wreck rescue techniques amid new evidence

Doctors to overhaul car wreck rescue techniques amid new evidence There are plans for a major overhaul of how people are rescued from car wrecks amid growing evidence that current methods where people wait to be cut free may be harmful.

Last year there were 127,967 casualties and 1,560 deaths in England caused by motor vehicle collisions. During the same period, more than 7,000 patients needed to helped out of the vehicle through a process known as extrication, where rescue crews use “Jaws of Life” and other tools to pry apart the wreckage, and then carefully lift people out. The Guardian

Timelapse maps show how 'most contagious Covid yet' has become dominant in Britain

Timelapse maps show how 'most contagious Covid yet' has become dominant in Britain Covid's most contagious variant yet is now dominant in England, sequencing data shows as experts warn it could cause send infections to pandemic highs.

Data from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows six in 10 positive swabs it examined in the week to June 25 were the BA.5 version of Omicron.

It has now officially displaced BA.2, which caused infections to breach 4million in April and prompted NHS bosses to call for the return of masks just days after No10 abandoned all restrictions. The Daily Mail

See also:

• COVID–19 Genomic Surveillance Sanger Institute
• Long Covid: Midwife's anger over new no-pay rule in NHS BBC News
• Covid: Norfolk man says he is 'fighting every day for life' BBC News
• Over-50s could be offered FOURTH Covid booster jab as ministers plan latest fightback against virus The Daily Mail
• Covid is back — but how worried should we be? Evening Standard
• Who’s clapping now? UK healthcare workers with long Covid have been abandoned | Kelly Fearnley & Shaun Peter Qureshi The Guardian
• All over-50s to be offered Covid booster this autumn after jump in infections The Independent
• Government set to throw away 40 million expired Covid tests as rates surge The Independent

Number of children who regularly vape DOUBLES in two years, warns report

Number of children who regularly vape DOUBLES in two years, warns report The number of children who regularly use e-cigarettes has nearly doubled in two years, a Government-funded report warns.

Experts have blamed the rise on social media sites like TikTok, where videos showing off vape smoke tricks have racked up tens of millions of views.

The report, which surveyed 2,000 British children, found one in 14 over-11s (7 per cent) now use e-cigarettes routinely, compared to four per cent in 2020. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain, 2022 Action on Smoking and Health
• Vaping among children doubles in two years as experts blame TikTok The Daily Telegraph
• Rise in children vaping across Britain ‘influenced by social media’ The Independent
• Ads on TikTok and Instagram ‘behind rise in children vaping’ Metro

Teachers in Northamptonshire share concerns about mental health as new coaching programme launches

Teachers in Northamptonshire share concerns about mental health as new coaching programme launches More than 30 Northamptonshire teachers and school leaders said they are crying out for better mental health support as they celebrated the launch of a new coach training programme. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton private hospital launches website where people can select medical supplies to donate to Ukraine

Northampton private hospital launches website where people can select medical supplies to donate to Ukraine A new website has been launched by a Northampton private hospital whereby people can select medical supplies to donate to the frontline in Ukraine.

Three Shires hospital in Cliftonville has set up a new ‘gift style’ website where anyone can select any number of medical items to donate. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Statement from Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Statement from Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care A statement from Steve Barclay on his appointment as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Department of Health and Social Care
• Rishi Sunak's and Sajid Javid's resignation letters in full BBC News
• Steve Barclay: a prime minister’s dependable servant The Guardian
• Who is Boris Johnson’s new Health Secretary Steve Barclay? The Independent
• New health secretary Steve Barclay cannot ‘sugar coat’ major NHS challenges, leaders warn The Independent
• Who is Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new Health Secretary Steve Barclay? ITV News
• Steve Barclay installed as new health secretary after Sajid Javid quits Metro
• Who is the new Health Secretary Steve Barclay? Nursing Notes
• Steve Barclay appointed as health secretary after Sajid Javid's resignation Sky News

Oldham doctor jailed for killing patient in botched procedure

Oldham doctor jailed for killing patient in botched procedure A doctor who killed a mother-of-three when he botched a procedure during a routine appointment has been jailed.

Dr Isyaka Mamman, now thought to be 85, admitted gross negligence manslaughter over the death of Shahida Parveen, 48, at the Royal Oldham Hospital in 2018. BBC News

See also:

• Doctor who lied about his age given three years for negligent manslaughter The Daily Telegraph
• Oldham doctor who killed woman in botched procedure jailed for three years The Guardian
• Manchester: NHS doctor, 81, killed patient in bungled biopsy Metro

JCVI chief calls for mandatory masks in hospitals amid Covid surge

JCVI chief calls for mandatory masks in hospitals amid Covid surge It would be “sensible” for hospitals to reintroduce mandatory mask-wearing, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has said, as several trusts in England and Wales announced the move.

When NHS rules on wearing masks in England were dropped on 10 June, local health bodies were given the power to draft their own policies. Their guidance, however, is no longer legally enforceable. The Guardian

See also:

• Just FIVE more virus fatalities recorded in England and Wales last week despite cases having doubled The Daily Mail
• Is YOUR summer holiday in danger of being ruined by Covid? Cases soar in France, Greece and Italy The Daily Mail
• UK Covid cases are rising – should we wear masks again? The Guardian
• In pretending that Covid is over, the UK government is playing a dangerous game The Guardian
• The Guardian view on Covid’s resurgence: act now or pay later | Editorial The Guardian
• Covid self-isolation rules: Do you need to isolate? The Independent

Patients will suffer as a result of NHS 'gagging' clauses, whistleblower warns

Patients will suffer as a result of NHS 'gagging' clauses, whistleblower warns Patients will suffer as a result of NHS ‘gagging’ clauses, a whistleblower who faced a five-year employment tribunal battle has warned.

Speaking out for the first time since 2017, surgeon Tristan Reuser warned that the use by the NHS of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) risks patients’ safety. The Independent

BMA granted judicial review over government handling of NHS pension age discrimination

BMA granted judicial review over government handling of NHS pension age discrimination The high court granted the BMA permission for a judicial review of changes to the scheme made in 2015 that the government conceded were discriminatory in 2019. GPonline

See also: 

• BMA wins permission for Judicial Review challenging the Government’s attempt to make NHS staff pay for the Government’s unlawful actions BMA

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