NHS hospital wait times above 18 weeks at a third of departments

NHS hospital wait times above 18 weeks at a third of departments Nearly 40% of NHS hospital departments in England have average treatment waiting times above 18 weeks – with average waits at some well over 30 weeks, according to Observer analysis of NHS data.

In England, the NHS Constitution sets out that patients should wait no more than 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment. But analysis of hospital waiting time data published on the NHS My Planned Care site shows that 813 out of 2,148 specialties at hospital trusts in England had average wait times for non-cancer treatment of more than 18 weeks in mid-August – 38% in total. The Guardian

See also:

• Hospitals are hit by £5.5m-a-day bed blocking crisis The Daily Mail
• Senior health chief warns NHS may have to go on pandemic footing this winter to protect service The Daily Mail
• ‘A horrible winter lies ahead’: next PM will inherit an NHS on its knees The Guardian
• Thousands of NHS staff to leave because they can’t afford to travel to work, chiefs warn The Independent
• Flu could ‘bite’ as early as October, NHS leaders and scientists warn The Independent

Why are more people being sectioned by psychiatrists?

Why are more people being sectioned by psychiatrists? Britain is returning to the era of asylums, a top doctor has warned, after figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday show the number of mental health patients locked up in psychiatric hospitals against their will has spiralled over the past four decades.

A person with a mental disorder can be legally detained for treatment in a secure ward under the Mental Health Act – known as being sectioned – if there is a risk they may harm themselves or others.

Is a new fast-acting pill for depression the Holy Grail that patients have been waiting for?

Is a new fast-acting pill for depression the Holy Grail that patients have been waiting for? Treating severe and chronic depression can be extremely difficult. Over the years, medicines have been developed to treat mood disorders, from tricyclics in the 1950s to SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) in the 1970s.

However, it can take time for these drugs to have an effect (and in an estimated 30 per cent of cases, they don’t work at all); with SSRIs, it’s between four to eight weeks.

But could a new drug that’s just been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. be the answer? The Daily Mail

See also:

• FDA Approval of AUVELITY, the First and Only Oral NMDA Receptor Antagonist for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults Axsome Therapeutics
• Efficacy and Safety of AXS-05 (Dextromethorphan-Bupropion) in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial (GEMINI) (open access) Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Which staff members leave the NHS acute sector?

Which staff members leave the NHS acute sector? In a report, published today and funded by the NIHR’s Health and Social Care Workforce Policy Research Unit, we examine some of the factors associated with NHS staff leaving the NHS acute sector. We use the Electronic Staff Record, the monthly payroll of directly employed NHS staff, to analyse the leaving rates of consultants, nurses and midwives, and health-care assistants (HCAs) between 2012 and 2021. Over this period, the leaving rates for these staff groups differed considerably: on average, 0.4% of consultants left the acute sector each month, compared to 0.8% of nurses and midwives and 1.2% of HCAs. Different factors are likely to be related to the leaving decisions of each group, and so we separately consider how different factors are related to exits among each staff group. Institute for Fiscal Studies

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 decreased in most indicators in week 33 of 2022.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) decreased in England in week 33 to 124 compared to 172 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency

Over 50 new surgical hubs set to open across England to help bust the Covid backlogs

Over 50 new surgical hubs set to open across England to help bust the Covid backlogs Over 50 new surgical hubs will open across the country to help bust the Covid backlogs and offer hundreds of thousands more patients quicker access to vital procedures, the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has announced. Department of Health and Social Care

Synthetic mouse embryo develops beating heart

Synthetic mouse embryo develops beating heart Scientists in Cambridge have created synthetic mouse embryos in a lab, without using eggs or sperm, which show evidence of a brain and beating heart.

The mouse embryos, developed using stem cells, only lasted for eight days.

But the research team say it could improve understanding of the earliest stages of organ development - and why some pregnancies fail. BBC News

See also:

• Synthetic embryos complete gastrulation to neurulation and organogenesis (open access) Nature

Nationwide strike ballot of NHS nursing staff confirmed

Nationwide strike ballot of NHS nursing staff confirmed Nursing staff will be asked to consider industrial action after a decade of real-terms pay cuts.

A nationwide ballot of Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members is now set to take place next month. Nursing Notes

Parts of England have one NHS dentist for thousands of people, data shows

Parts of England have one NHS dentist for thousands of people, data shows Dental patients are still suffering from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, as parts of England are left with only one NHS dentist for thousands of people.

In North Lincolnshire, there were just 54 NHS dentists – equivalent to one for every 3,199 people – at the end of March, NHS Digital figures show. This means every NHS dentist in the area would have to work nine-hour days every working day of the year without holidays for each resident to receive one annual checkup on the NHS. The Guardian

‘People are freaking out, seeing young men with lesions all over their faces’: the anxious wait for monkeypox vaccines

‘People are freaking out, seeing young men with lesions all over their faces’: the anxious wait for monkeypox vaccines With supplies running low, many gay and bisexual men are struggling to get appointments at sexual health centres – and for some, the handling of the outbreak has alarming echoes of the HIV/Aids epidemic. The Guardian

Woman confronts Steve Barclay on NHS outside hospital

Woman confronts Steve Barclay on NHS outside hospital The health secretary has been confronted outside a hospital by a woman who angrily criticised the government for doing “bugger all” to fix record-high ambulance wait times.

During an interview with broadcasters in central London on Thursday afternoon, Steve Barclay was told the Conservatives had had “long enough” to fix the NHS by a visibly angry member of the public. The Guardian

See also:

• Stephen Barclay challenged on ambulance delays BBC News

Staffing emergency as 999 workforce shrinks while demand increases, data shows

Staffing emergency as 999 workforce shrinks while demand increases, data shows  The number of ambulance staff is falling despite a rise in demand, according to a Daily Mail analysis.

The workforce in England had been increasing since April 2019 but has dropped for three months in a row, analysis of NHS figures reveals.

From October last year to March this year, the number stayed above 18,000, while it now stands at 17,847, the lowest since September last year.

See also:

• Ambulance chiefs blasted by Health Secretary over 'unacceptable' ambulance handover delays The Daily Mail
• NHS 'misled' public over growing crisis of A&E waiting times The Daily Telegraph

Northampton and Kettering general hospitals shortlisted for national award for technology use

Northampton and Kettering general hospitals shortlisted for national award for technology use Northampton and Kettering general hospitals have been shortlisted for a national award for their use of technology to better support frail patients.

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) is a finalist in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards 2022 in the Digital System and Process Development Award category. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Union tables claim to increase pay rise offered by Northampton mental health hospital

Union tables claim to increase pay rise offered by Northampton mental health hospital A union representing workers at St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton has tabled a claim to improve the pay increase offer.

UNISON has formally proposed that St Andrew's employees receive either a £2,000 rise at all career levels or the current rate of Retail Price Index (RPI) - presently 11.8 percent - whichever is higher. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

More than 1,400 people in Northamptonshire given specialist Covid medication

More than 1,400 people in Northamptonshire given specialist Covid medication More than 1,400 county residents at risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19 have been treated with antiviral and other specialist medications by Northamptonshire’s hospitals after testing positive for the virus.

Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals have both been providing the treatments – either as tablets or intravenous infusions – as part of the national network of Covid Medicines Delivery Units (CMDUs) set up in December 2021. Northants Live

The continuing impact of Covid-19 on health and inequalities

The continuing impact of Covid-19 on health and inequalities A year on from publication of the Health Foundation’s impact inquiry, inequalities in COVID-19 mortality persist with mortality rates 3 to 4 times higher in the most deprived areas. However, the overall number of COVID-19 deaths is now significantly lower than it was during the first year of the pandemic. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Chart of the week: How has the pandemic affected inequalities in tooth extractions for children? Nuffield Trust

Next steps for continuity of care: practical learning in light of the Fuller report

 Next steps for continuity of care: practical learning in light of the Fuller report General practice is facing significant and multiple challenges, driven by a perfect storm of COVID-19, GP shortages and workload pressures. The impact on patients is obvious – and this is reflected in dramatically falling satisfaction levels.

The recent Fuller report offered a clear vision of the future primary care system, including the fundamental ingredients that need to stay, where change needs to happen and what can enable that change. The Health Foundation

There’s no such thing as a new public policy idea, just a new name

There’s no such thing as a new public policy idea, just a new name Those of us who have been at the policy and implementation game for a while can be forgiven for thinking that there are few genuinely new ideas in public policy. Instead, the policy pendulum swings between solutions that are implemented, discarded for something better (or more accurately, something that is just different), and then reintroduced with a different name sometime later. The King's Fund

How are we doing? A coproduced approach to tracking young Black men’s experiences of community wellbeing and mental health programmes

How are we doing? A coproduced approach to tracking young Black men’s experiences of community wellbeing and mental health programmes There are few culturally relevant tools focusing on young Black men’s mental health outcomes. Using approaches that lack cultural sensitivity limit services’ ability to know whether they are working well, and can lead to mistrust and disengagement. Funded by Mind, this report from the Centre for Mental Health looks at how they designed a new, culturally informed approach to monitoring young Black men’s outcomes for accessing wellbeing support — Culturally appropriate evaluation for young Black men. It was coproduced with young Black men to identify what impact a service has on their mental health and wellbeing. Community wellbeing and mental health programmes are being asked to pilot the tool, to help determine its effectiveness.

Regular asymptomatic testing paused in additional settings

Regular asymptomatic testing paused in additional settings Regular asymptomatic testing for Covid in all remaining settings in England will be paused from 31 August, as Covid cases continue to fall.

Free testing for the public ended on 1 April as part of the government’s Living with Covid plan, but asymptomatic testing continued to be used in some settings during periods of high case rates. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: testing during periods of low prevalence UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care services UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for hospices UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: COVID-19: managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection  UK Health Security Agency
• Variation in reported SARS-CoV-2 cases after testing policy changes The Lancet Infectious Diseases
• NHS and care homes in England to pause routine Covid testing BBC News
• Routine COVID-19 testing in GP practices to stop from next week Gponline
• Routine Covid tests in English hospitals to be scrapped next week The Guardian
• COVID-19: Routine asymptomatic testing among NHS and care home workers to be 'paused' from end of this month Sky News

Tory leadership: Rishi Sunak criticises government Covid response

Tory leadership: Rishi Sunak criticises government Covid response Rishi Sunak has criticised the government's response to Covid - suggesting independent scientific advisers were given too much authority.

Mr Sunak - chancellor in the pandemic - told the Spectator magazine there had not been enough discussion about the negative side-effects of lockdowns.

He said he had felt "emotional" when he argued to keep schools in England open. BBC News

See also:

• Why HAVE they scrapped the pioneering early warning system that can protect against a Covid surge? The Daily Mail
• A THIRD of over-50s still haven't had last year's Covid booster jab in parts of England The Daily Mail
• Pfizer makes bid to have BA.5-specific COVID-19 jab approved by the FDA The Daily Mail
• Sunak says it was a mistake to ‘empower scientists’ during Covid pandemic The Guardian
• Government wrong to ‘empower scientists’ on Covid lockdowns, says Rishi Sunak The Independent
• Accountability for COVID-19 policies was blurred during televised briefings, study shows Nottingham Trent University
• Sunak claims he was gagged over negative effects of COVID lockdowns and scientists had too much influence over decision making Sky News

Liz Truss plan to divert NHS funds to social care is ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’

Liz Truss plan to divert NHS funds to social care is ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ Liz Truss would be “robbing Peter to pay Paul” if she diverted £13bn of funding for the NHS to deal with a Covid backlog in social care, experts have said.

The Conservative leadership frontrunner told a hustings on Tuesday night that she would spend the £13bn earmarked for the NHS to catch up on delayed treatment after Covid on social care instead. The Guardian

See also:

• Liz Truss' plan to rescue social care sector if she wins Tory leadership race receives lukewarm response from campaigners The Daily Mail
• Liz Truss plan to divert NHS billions to social care like ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ The Independent
• Truss pledges to allocate £13bn to social care Local Government Chronicle

NHS 111 cyber attack still affecting GPs three weeks after start of outage

NHS 111 cyber attack still affecting GPs three weeks after start of outage GP practices are still being affected by the recent cyber incident affecting NHS 111, despite assurances a solution was ‘days’ away two weeks ago.

One GP practice was told their CPR training was being cancelled due to 111 ‘capacity issues’ with the IT outage, which affects the Adastra system used by 111 services and hosted by Advanced.

And NHS England has said that software being taken offline is impacting 111 referrals to GP practices and through GP access hubs. Pulse

See also:

• NHS 111 cyber-attack fiasco will harm patients, safety experts warn The Daily Mail
• Advanced issues status updates on products affected by cyber-attack Digital Health 
• Special Report: Data Security Digital Health

Doom-scrollers are more likely to suffer from stress and anxiety, study finds

Doom-scrollers are more likely to suffer from stress and anxiety, study finds One in six people are 'doom scrollers', a study suggests.

The term gained popularity in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and 2020 US presidential election and refers to people who obsessively follow negative news.

Researchers analysed data from an online survey of 1,100 adults who were asked about their news consumption habits and stress and anxiety levels. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Caught in a Dangerous World: Problematic News Consumption and Its Relationship to Mental and Physical Ill-Being (open access) Health Communication

Analysis suggests 500 Brits are dying every WEEK due to ambulance delays and A&E waits

Analysis suggests 500 Brits are dying every WEEK due to ambulance delays and A&E waits As many as 500 people are dying every week in England because of the crisis in NHS emergency departments, according to analysis.

A&E performance has plummeted to its worst ever level over recent months with patients waiting up to 40 hours for a bed, while the sick are facing near-record waits for ambulances.

So far in 2022, there have been over 11,000 'excess deaths' — the number of fatalities above the five-year average, which is a marker of how many are expected. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Expert warns 'tens of thousands of lives will be lost' due to cancer delays that are 'getting worse' The Daily Mail
• NHS forced to publish hidden trolley wait data by UK regulator The Independent
• NHS chiefs give hospitals deadline to stop ambulance delays The Independent

Scientists may have found way to clear the brain of toxic chemicals responsible for Alzheimer's

Scientists may have found way to clear the brain of toxic chemicals responsible for Alzheimer's A research team may have found a new way to clear harmful proteins in the brain that trigger cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, opening the door for new treatments for the devastating conditions. 

Experts believe that Alzheimer's is triggered by amyloid beta proteins building up in the brain and clumping together, triggering tell-tale symptoms such as memory loss and loss of general cognitive function. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Aqp4 stop codon readthrough facilitates amyloid-β clearance from the brain (abstract) Brain

'They saved my life': £90000 donation funds revolutionary equipment at Northampton General Hospital

'They saved my life': £90000 donation funds revolutionary equipment at Northampton General Hospital A £90,000 donation from a 90-year-old woman has funded revolutionary equipment to enhance cancer care at Northampton General Hospital (NGH), which has put them two-to-three years ahead. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

From white coat to grey suit: should more clinicians manage the NHS?

From white coat to grey suit: should more clinicians manage the NHS? In meeting the huge challenges facing the NHS, technology is often looked to as the great hope. Yet studies suggest good management is a more active ingredient for success.

Over the years numerous reports have called for more clinicians to manage the NHS, highlighting their deep knowledge of clinical care, and insight and credibility to make effective change.

Now, over a third of all NHS chief executives hold a clinical qualification and about a third of jobbing clinicians have part-time management roles too. But that’s still only a third, and getting trained in management is patchy and haphazard – a finding echoed in the recent Messenger Review of health and social care leadership.

How can we support more clinicians to manage the NHS, and learn from those who already do it well? Podcast from The Health Foundation

Odds stacked against it: how social care struggles to compete with supermarkets on pay

Odds stacked against it: how social care struggles to compete with supermarkets on pay ‘I dread hearing Aldi opening up nearby... I know I will lose staff.’

This quote cited in last month’s House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee report on the health and care workforce is familiar to many in adult social care. Along with other similar evidence, it led the committee to conclude that ‘social care providers are consistently being outbid by the retail and hospitality sectors’. The King's Fund

Guidance: Bureaucracy busting concordat: principles to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and administrative burdens on general practice

Guidance: Bureaucracy busting concordat: principles to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and administrative burdens on general practice The government made a public commitment as part of the 2020 to 2021 GP contract update to jointly review bureaucracy in general practice with NHS England. The intention of the review was to reduce the burden on general practitioners and primary care teams, releasing more time to focus on patient care. Department of Health and Social Care

At home early medical abortions made permanent in England and Wales

At home early medical abortions made permanent in England and Wales Women in England and Wales will be able to permanently access early medical abortions at home from 30 August.

New legislation will allow women to access pills for early medical abortion via a teleconsultation, and for both pills to be taken at home for gestation of up to 9 weeks and 6 days. Department of Health and Social Care

ONS: Why is the number of deaths higher than expected?

ONS: Why is the number of deaths higher than expected? The threat from Covid may have receded, but renewed concerns are being raised about the high number of total deaths being recorded.

Data from the national statisticians for the UK suggests during the past 10 weeks the number has been 12% higher than would have been expected, based on the average for previous years.

Covid-related deaths are - as they have been for much of the past year - pretty low, accounting for about 4% of deaths in July, making it the sixth-biggest cause of death. So what else could be causing this spike? BBC News

See also:

• Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales: July 2022 Office for National Statistics
• Up to 12% more Brits than usual died every DAY during last month's heatwave, official data shows The Daily Mail 
• Twice as many people died with Covid in UK this summer compared with 2021 The Guardian

Pandemic may be responsible for drop in melanoma diagnoses, says Staffordshire consultant

Pandemic may be responsible for drop in melanoma diagnoses, says Staffordshire consultant Skin cancer specialists say they are concerned the pandemic has led to fewer people being treated after a drop in the number of melanoma diagnoses.

Wayne Jaffe, a consultant at University Hospital of North Midlands (UHNM), said his team were seeing people with more advanced stages of the disease.

Melanoma diagnoses fell by almost 30% nationally, between April and November 2020, figures show. BBC News

Blood donor world record attempt aims to boost low NHS stocks

Blood donor world record attempt aims to boost low NHS stocks A British charity is attempting to set a world record for the most blood donations given in one day as the NHS says donors are urgently needed to replenish low stocks.

Who Is Hussain, a Muslim social justice charity, is trying to rally 50,000 blood donors across six continents for the record attempt on Saturday August 27. The Independent

NHS fails on mental health care targets as waiting list rises to 1.2 million

NHS fails on mental health care targets as waiting list rises to 1.2 million The number of people waiting for community mental health care has risen to 1.2 million, with the NHS missing several targets, new data reveals.

The NHS England data found the figure for those waiting for a mental health follow-up appointment or learning disability service at the end of 2021-22 was up from 1.08 million at the end of quarter three. The Independent

Boy, 17, found dead after seeking mental health help ‘had not seen GP in person’

Boy, 17, found dead after seeking mental health help ‘had not seen GP in person’ A coroner has expressed concern at the difficulty of getting face-to-face appointments with GPs and other health professionals after a 17-year-old boy suffering from mental health problems was found dead. The Guardian

NHS in crisis: is the UK sleepwalking into privatisation?

NHS in crisis: is the UK sleepwalking into privatisation? The number of Londoners turning to private GPs has hit a record high, but critics warn it’s creating a two-tier system. Katie Strick speaks to doctors and patients on both sides of the UK’s widening healthcare gap. Evening Standard

Simple eye test could diagnose children with autism in half the time, study suggests

Simple eye test could diagnose children with autism in half the time, study suggests A simple eye test at the opticians could diagnose children with autism, a study suggests.

US researchers found the eyes of youngsters with the condition respond more slowly when exposed to bright light.

Their pupils took longer to constrict and return to their original size. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Sensitivity and specificity of pupillary light reflex measures for ASD using monocular pupillometry (open access) Neurological Sciences

Former health secretary Matt Hancock pushes back against doctors' calls for pay rise

Former health secretary Matt Hancock pushes back against doctors' calls for pay rise Taxpayer cash should be spent on speeding up NHS treatment and operations rather than boosting doctors' salaries, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested today amid an NHS pay row.

Mr Hancock pushed back against calls from doctors and nurses for the Government to up its 4.5 per cent increase, which unions say amounts to a real terms pay cut. The Daily Mail

Student finance is ‘broken’ and in urgent need of reform, says BMA, as six out of 10 medical students say they are forced to cut spending on

Student finance is ‘broken’ and in urgent need of reform, says BMA, as six out of 10 medical students say they are forced to cut spending on 60 per cent of UK medical students report being forced to cut spending on essentials such as food, clothing and heating, according to a BMA survey of UK medical students published today.

Despite the detrimental impact on their studies and wellbeing, over half of UK medical students (53.6%) say they have to work during term time to pay their bills, feed themselves and keep themselves warm. An overwhelming majority of those who are forced to work (73.1%) say this adversely affects their studying. British Medical Association

See also:

• Most UK medical students struggle to afford essentials, survey finds The Guardian
• Medical students cutting spending on food and heating, says BMA The Independent

Monkeypox vaccine rationed by giving mini doses

Monkeypox vaccine rationed by giving mini doses Three NHS sites are set to begin a pilot offering eligible patients smaller doses of monkeypox vaccine, amid global shortages of the jab.

Experts say the reduced shots are just as effective and will mean more people are protected.

The fractional dosing approach has been authorised in the US and the EU, as well as the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Monkeypox vaccines to be piloted in smaller but equally effective doses UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Monkeypox vaccination recommendations UK Health Security Agency
• Update on vaccination to protect against monkeypox in England UK Health Security Agency

Tony Nicklinson: Decade since death of right-to-die campaigner

Tony Nicklinson: Decade since death of right-to-die campaigner Right-to-die campaigner Tony Nicklinson would be "angry" there has not been more progress on the issue a decade after his death, his daughter has said.

Mr Nicklinson had locked-in syndrome and fought for the right to legally end his life.

He was paralysed from the neck down after suffering a stroke in 2005. He died on 22 August 2012. BBC News

Brain stimulation boosts memory for a month

Brain stimulation boosts memory for a month Scientists have discovered they can boost people's memory for a least a month by harmlessly stimulating parts of the brain with electricity.

Volunteers performed better at word memorisation games, which tested both their immediate "working" memory and their long-term memory, experts found.

Exactly what the results mean for day-to-day life is still unclear. BBC News

See also:

• Long-lasting, dissociable improvements in working memory and long-term memory in older adults with repetitive neuromodulation (open access) Nature Neuroscience

New research offers hope for diabetes patients with sight loss

New research offers hope for diabetes patients with sight loss A new laser treatment for patients with sight loss as a result of diabetes has been shown to be cost-effective and non-invasive, according to research following a clinical trial.

There are currently several treatment options offered to people with Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO), including two types of laser treatment and eye injections. The Independent

See also:

• DIAbetic Macular Oedema aNd Diode Subthreshold micropulse laser (DIAMONDS): A randomized double-masked non-inferiority clinical trial (abstract, but article available with a Trust OpenAthens account) Ophthalmology

NHS 111 delays ‘leave patients waiting 20 times longer than target’

NHS 111 delays ‘leave patients waiting 20 times longer than target’ Patients calling NHS 111 are being left waiting for operators to answer 20 times longer than the expected time, according to new figures.

The service aims for calls to be answered in less than 20 seconds on average but the latest provisional data shows the average answer time in July was 395 seconds, or six and a half minutes. The Independent

GPs to prescribe walking and cycling in bid to ease burden on NHS

GPs to prescribe walking and cycling in bid to ease burden on NHS GPs around England are to prescribe patients activities such as walking or cycling in a bid to ease the burden on the NHS by improving mental and physical health.

The £12.7m trial, which was announced by the Department for Transport and will begin this year, is part of a wider movement of “social prescribing”, an approach already used in the NHS, in which patients are referred for non-medical activities. The Guardian

See also:

• Walking, wheeling and cycling to be offered on prescription in nationwide trial Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise a week lowers risk of catching virus, study finds

Covid: Two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise a week lowers risk of catching virus, study finds Regular exercise may lower the risk of catching Covid, a major review suggests.

Physical activity has long been known to reduce the chance of severe illness by strengthening the immune system.

But researchers now believe keeping fit can help ward off the infection altogether after analysing more than a dozen international studies. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Physical activity and risk of infection, severity and mortality of COVID-19: a systematic review and non-linear dose–response meta-analysis of data from 1 853 610 adults (open access) British Journal of Sports Medicine
• The NHS isn’t buying a Covid wonder drug – and its excuse makes no sense The Daily Telegraph
• GPs with long COVID let down by lack of support, warns BMA GPonline
• Regular physical activity may lessen Covid risks, study finds The Guardian
• UK Covid inquiry bill already at £85m as government hires top law firms The Guardian

'Holy grail' trialled by NHS could save thousands of lives by detecting cancer before symptoms show

'Holy grail' trialled by NHS could save thousands of lives by detecting cancer before symptoms show A blood test for the over-50s being trialled by the NHS could prevent as many as one in ten cancer deaths in the UK.

The Health Service is conducting a world-first trial of the test, which aims to detect more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms show.

Although there are no results yet, researchers are optimistic that it has 'enormous' potential. The Daily Mail

See also:

• New NHS blood test trial could stop one in ten UK cancer deaths, say researchers Evening Standard

Doctors continue fight against Covid as number of virus deaths at Northampton General Hospital nears 1000

Doctors continue fight against Covid as number of virus deaths at Northampton General Hospital nears 1000 Specialist hospital teams are continuing the fight against Covid-19 by offering potentially life-saving medication to some the most vulnerable people in Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Doctors continue fight against Covid as number of virus deaths at Kettering General Hospital nears 800 Northamptonshire Telegraph

Where does the buck stop? Understanding accountabilities and structures in the national health and care system in England

Where does the buck stop? Understanding accountabilities and structures in the national health and care system in England The Health and Care Act 2022 and concurrent reforms to the public health system have introduced a range of changes and some simplifications to the landscape of national bodies in the health and care system.

Here, we explain the core functions of the national bodies with the most significant role in setting policy for and shaping the operation of the health and care system. We also look at how these organisations are held accountable for carrying out those functions and the extent to which central government can direct them. The King's Fund

72-hr discharge follow-up target for mental health patients missed 38,000 times

72-hr discharge follow-up target for mental health patients missed 38,000 times New analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists shows that between April 2020 and May 2022, 37,999 follow-ups with mental health patients after leaving inpatient facilities weren’t made within a critical 72-hour window.

The risk of suicide is highest on the second and third days after leaving a mental health hospital, that’s why the target of following up with at least 80% of people within three days after discharge was introduced.

The target has never been achieved in England since the introduction of the policy in 2019/20, leaving too many patients without specialist mental health support during this critical time.

See also:

• Almost 38,000 mental health appointments miss vital 72-hour window The Guardian

Policy paper: Building the right support for people with a learning disability and autistic people

Policy paper: Building the right support for people with a learning disability and autistic people An action plan to strengthen community support for people with a learning disability and autistic people, and reduce reliance on mental health inpatient care. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS trials smart goggles to give nurses more time with patients

NHS trials smart goggles to give nurses more time with patients High tech goggles will be worn by community nurses on home visits to free up time with patients, as part of a cutting-edge NHS pilot.

As long as a patient consents, the virtual reality style headset can transcribe the appointment directly to electronic records, reducing time-consuming admin for nurses.

Staff will be able to share live footage directly with hospital colleagues to get a second opinion, avoiding the need for further appointments or hospital admission, and includes thermal imaging to help assess how wounds and injuries have healed. NHS England

See also:

• New smart glasses to help nurses maximise time with patients on home visits The Independent
• 'Pioneering' new smart glasses to be trialled by nurses to help them spend more time with patients Sky News

Covid infections in UK continue to fall

Covid infections in UK continue to fall The number of people infected with coronavirus in the UK is continuing to fall, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.

Its latest data estimates 1.7 million people - about one in 40 of us - would have tested positive two weeks ago.

That is down significantly from 3.5 million in early July and school holidays may be part of the reason. BBC News

See also:

• Covid infections continue to subside with just 1.4million infected in England last week (one in 40) The Daily Mail
• The worst of Covid is over for most of us, but it still lingers for those with learning disabilities | Sonia Sodha The Guardian
• ‘Covid is over’ idea may threaten booster uptake in England, scientists warn The Guardian
• Real-world study details average duration of infectiousness for COVID-19 Imperial College London
• New study reveals when people with Covid are infectious and for how long The Independent
• First real-world study gives detailed new insights into when people with COVID are infectious Sky News
• Onset and window of SARS-CoV-2 infectiousness and temporal correlation with symptom onset: a prospective, longitudinal, community cohort study (open access) The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

Monkeypox cases declining - particularly in London

Monkeypox cases declining - particularly in London New cases of monkeypox appear to be reducing with just 20 people a day becoming infected, UK health officials say.

In a report on the virus, they say the epidemic in London has declined since mid-July and is now the same size as in the rest of the country.

UK vaccine supplies are set to run out until a new delivery arrives sometime in September. BBC News

See also:

• UK monkeypox case numbers show overall decline UK Health Security Agency

Minimise A&E use this winter amid 'substantial' pressure on the NHS, public to be asked - Evening Standard

Minimise A&E use this winter amid 'substantial' pressure on the NHS, public to be asked Health chiefs are preparing to launch a public awareness campaign encouraging people to reduce A&E usage in a bid to protect the NHS from collapse this winter, according to reports.

In a letter to staff, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said winter planning has begun earlier than usual as the “pressure on the NHS is likely to be substantial, particularly in urgent and emergency care”. Evening Standard

UK energy bills crisis could set back health equality by decades, say experts

UK energy bills crisis could set back health equality by decades, say experts A  failure to tackle soaring energy bills could set back health equality by decades and see the NHS faced with a “humanitarian crisis” of people unable to keep warm or eat properly, NHS leaders and public health experts have warned.

With one help service receiving calls from almost 100 people in a single day who had had their power disconnected, there are fears that many clinically vulnerable people could die or be forced to stay in hospital because it is unsafe to send them back to a freezing home. The Guardian

See also:

• Could the energy crisis cause a public health emergency? NHS Confederation
• GPs could prescribe money off energy bills under Treasury plan The Guardian
• GPs reject Treasury plan for them to prescribe money off energy bills The Guardian
• Government ‘has lost the plot’ over plan for GPs to prescribe heating bill discounts The Independent
• NHS bosses warn soaring energy bills will make people sick if government does not offer more support ITV News

Overseas hiring spree planned for care homes in England amid winter fears

Overseas hiring spree planned for care homes in England amid winter fears Foreign workers could be recruited for care homes in England amid concerns about staff shortages this winter, under government plans.

The health secretary, Steve Barclay, wants the overseas recruitment spree to include sending NHS managers to countries such as India and the Philippines to hire thousands of nurses, the Times reported. The Guardian

Prescribing e-cigarettes on the NHS could help up to 40% of smokers quit, study claims

Prescribing e-cigarettes on the NHS could help up to 40% of smokers quit, study claims Dishing out vapes on the NHS can help even 'hardened' cigarette smokers quit, researchers say.

A pilot scheme saw more than 300 traditional smokers given £25 vape shop vouchers, as well as support from the health service's stop smoking service.

Within one month, four in 10 of those who used the coupons said they had turned their back on cigarettes for good. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A pilot e-cigarette voucher scheme in a rural county of the UK (open access) Nicotine and Tobacco Research
  

Autism breakthrough as scientists find 70 genes 'strongly linked' to condition

Autism breakthrough as scientists find 70 genes 'strongly linked' to condition Scientists have discovered dozens of genes that are strongly linked to autism, in what could be a breakthrough.  

Researchers hope the more than 70 newly-identified genetic variants could pave the way for new tests and treatments for the condition. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Rare coding variation provides insight into the genetic architecture and phenotypic context of autism Nature Genetics

NHS blows £1million on 'woke groups' for staff

NHS blows £1million on 'woke groups' for staff The NHS has spent more than £1million on hundreds of 'woke' staff networks at a time when it desperately needs more cash for patient care.

Nearly 500 of these groups have been set up by health trusts across the UK – taking up around 36,000 hours of staff time a year. Despite ministers' calls for the NHS to cut back on 'waste and wokery', some groups use taxpayers' money to put on events around transgender issues, sexuality and racism, often held during the working day. The Daily Mail

Digital health care across the UK: where are we now?

Digital health care across the UK: where are we now? Achieving digital transformation in health and social care in England has long been a goal, but progress on it over the past decade has not been straightforward. But what is happening elsewhere in the UK? With Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England all embarking on ambitious digital health programmes, Rachel Hutchings and Jessica Morris take a closer look at the various approaches being taken. Nuffield Trust

NHS leaders make ‘unprecedented move’ urging government to act now on rising energy costs or risk public health emergency

NHS leaders make ‘unprecedented move’ urging government to act now on rising energy costs or risk public health emergency NHS leaders across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are warning of rising numbers of people falling sick and worsening health outcomes across the country unless the government takes urgent action to limit further energy price increases.  

They fear a widening of health inequalities and worsening health outcomes for people living in communities with the highest levels of deprivation if individuals and families are driven further into poverty because of excessive energy costs. A decision on the energy price cap is expected on 26 August, with the latest estimates suggesting that the cap could go as high as £4,200 by January. NHS Confederation

See also:

• People's health at risk unless action taken on energy costs - NHS leaders BBC News
• NHS chiefs claim soaring energy bills will trigger 'humanitarian crisis' this winter The Daily Telegraph
• NHS leaders warn of ‘humanitarian crisis’ if government doesn’t act on energy costs The Guardian
• NHS boss warns of ‘unprecedented’ risk of death from cold homes unless ministers intervene on bills The Independent
• Cost of living: UK facing 'public health emergency' if action not taken on energy bills, NHS chiefs warn Sky News

Developing aspiring ethnic minority nursing and midwifery leaders

Developing aspiring ethnic minority nursing and midwifery leaders The Midlands Developing Aspirant Ethnic Minority Nursing and Midwifery Leaders Programme is a new, innovative regional pilot scheme designed by ethnic minority nurses and midwives for ethnic minority nurses and midwives. Miriam Coffie and Tom Warner explain how the programme works and its contribution to reducing healthcare inequalities. NHS England

NHS to roll out variant busting booster jab from September ahead of winter

NHS to roll out variant busting booster jab from September ahead of winter The NHS will become the first healthcare system in the world to use the next generation, bivalent COVID vaccine when it kickstarts the autumn booster rollout in early September.

Following the updated advice from the JCVI on Monday, the NHS has now set out plans for the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme – the largest and fastest vaccine drive in health service history.

Set to start during the week of 5 September, NHS staff will begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound. NHS England

See also:

• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Good practice statement on the use of second booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines World Health Organization
• Covid booster rollout to start in early September in England BBC News
• Covid pass app working again, says NHS Digital, after disruption BBC News
• COVID-19 booster campaign to start on 5 September, NHS England says GPonline
• NHS England to use dual-variant Covid vaccine in autumn booster programme The Guardian
• British travellers left struggling to board flights after NHS Covid pass down The Guardian
• NHS Covid Pass fixed after glitch leaves travellers without vaccination records The Independent
• Bring back Covid face masks on public transport or face winter wave, Tony Blair Institute warns The Independent
• Most people with Omicron didn't even realise they had COVID-19, study finds Sky News

Ambulance pressures: Thousands of taxis sent following 999 calls

Ambulance pressures: Thousands of taxis sent following 999 calls Ambulance services are using taxis to take thousands of patients to hospital following calls initially categorised as urgent.

Freedom of Information Act figures indicate the practice is increasing as trusts struggle with pressures.

Patients ranged from a three-day-old baby in Yorkshire to a 103-year-old in Wales. BBC News

Government defends medical student number cap

Government defends medical student number cap Questions are being asked why the government is sticking to its cap on medical and dentistry places.

A shortage of doctors and other medical staff has been described as the biggest challenge facing the NHS.

But the number of places at UK medical schools are capped - in England this year there are 7,500 places. BBC News

'Thousands' of foreign workers to be hired to fill health and social care staffing shortages

'Thousands' of foreign workers to be hired to fill health and social care staffing shortages The government is working on plans to recruit thousands of foreign workers from countries such as India and the Phillippines to plug staffing gaps in the health and social care sector, according to reports.

Overseas recruits are expected to be brought in on a “mass scale” as the health service struggles to fill vacancies. The Independent

See also:

• Slump in nursing course acceptances will worsen staffing crisis – union boss The Independent

UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study

UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study Dentists in the UK should be encouraged to give antibiotics to patients at high risk of life-threatening heart infection before invasive procedures, a study has found.

Research suggests bacteria from the mouth entering the bloodstream during dental treatment could explain 30% to 40% of infective endocarditis cases. The rare but life-threatening condition occurs when the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves become infected. The Guardian

See also:

• Antibiotic Prophylaxis Against Infective Endocarditis Before Invasive Dental Procedures (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Dentists should give antibiotics to high-risk patients to help prevent life-threatening heart infection University of Sheffield
• Infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures: IDEA case-crossover study NIHR

Liz Truss called for patients to be charged for GP visits, 2009 paper reveals

Liz Truss called for patients to be charged for GP visits, 2009 paper reveals Liz Truss called for patients to be charged to see their GP and for doctors’ pay to be slashed by 10% in a pamphlet she co-authored in 2009, the unearthed document has revealed.

The Tory leadership frontrunner also wanted to see the universal child benefit abolished in the report, which she co-wrote with six other people when she was deputy director of the Reform thinktank. The Guardian

Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter

Nine in ten GPs fear their practice will struggle to cope this winter Nearly nine in ten GPs fear that their practice will struggle to cope this winter, with workload pressures and staff shortages chief among their concerns, a GPonline poll has found.

Northampton General Hospital nurse given prestigious award for 'outstanding' end-of-life care

Northampton General Hospital nurse given prestigious award for 'outstanding' end-of-life care A nurse from Northampton General Hospital (NGH) has been awarded a prestigious national award for her outstanding work supporting patients and their families in end-of-life care. The Chief Nursing Officer for England Silver Award recognises major contributions to patient care and the nursing profession. Northants Live

Kettering care home rated inadequate for third time

Kettering care home rated inadequate for third time A nursing home has been rated inadequate for a third consecutive time and will remain in special measures.

An inspection of Five Gables near Kettering, Northamptonshire, in June found "no significant improvement" since the previous checks in January.

A report said its management of records and medicines could put people at risk. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Five Gables Nursing Home Care Quality Commission

Bringing hospital care home: virtual wards and hospital at home for older people

Bringing hospital care home: virtual wards and hospital at home for older people This report explores the potential benefits, limitations, and current scientific evidence to be considered when providing a safe, effective, and person-centred alternative to hospital inpatient care for older adults. This publication highlights how ‘virtual wards’ are being funded and implemented. It explains the various definitions of the term ‘virtual wards’ as used in different parts of the UK and describes the face-to-face care delivered by a multidisciplinary team, combined with some remote monitoring. British Geriatrics Society

Payment reform, purchaser and provider decisions and the performance of emergency healthcare systems: the case of blended payment in the English NHS

Payment reform, purchaser and provider decisions and the performance of emergency healthcare systems: the case of blended payment in the English NHS This paper constitutes the first and foundational output of the ESHCRU2 project 3 - Analysis of purcher-provider contracts: modelling risk sharing and incentive implications. This project focuses on the implications of payment reform of what is called blended payment for emergency care. The paper sets out the theoretical model developed to understand how behavioural choices could be influenced by this payment reform. Centre for Health Economics

Research: Evaluation of the potential approaches to risk assessment of unintentional chemical mixtures for future UK REACH assessments

Research: Evaluation of the potential approaches to risk assessment of unintentional chemical mixtures for future UK REACH assessments This joint report by the Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency identifies a recommended approach to address the risks to both the environment and human health from unintentional mixtures of chemicals under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation.

Covid: Brain fog more common two years on, study suggests

Covid: Brain fog more common two years on, study suggests Two years after having Covid-19, diagnoses of brain fog, dementia and epilepsy are more common than after other respiratory infections, a study by the University of Oxford suggests.

But anxiety and depression are no more likely in adults or children two years on, the research found.

More research is needed to understand how and why Covid could lead to other conditions. BBC News

See also:

• Neurological and psychiatric risk trajectories after SARS-CoV-2 infection: an analysis of 2-year retrospective cohort studies including 1 284 437 patients (open access) The Lancet Psychiatry
• Covid can raise the risk of dementia and psychosis in sufferers for up to two years The Daily Mail
• Covid patients face dementia risk years after infection, study finds The Independent
• ‘Covid patients at greater risk of psychiatric conditions up to two years later’ The Independent

Dog infected with monkeypox prompts isolation warning

Dog infected with monkeypox prompts isolation warning A dog has been infected with monkeypox after catching the virus from its owner, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

It's the first case of its kind, and health leaders say isolating from pets when infected is important.

The WHO also warned of the need to get rid of rubbish carefully to reduce the risk of infecting other animals.

There is no evidence that dogs can transmit the disease to other dogs or humans, an expert said. BBC News

See also:

• First human to dog monkeypox case prompts WHO advice to pet owners The Guardian
• WHO asks public to propose less stigmatising name for monkeypox The Guardian
• Dog catches monkeypox from owners after sleeping in their bed The Independent

NHS workers to vote on industrial action after rejecting 4% pay award

NHS workers to vote on industrial action after rejecting 4% pay award Hundreds of thousands of NHS workers will decide whether to go on strike after rejecting a pay increase that will see them worse off than last year in real terms.

The pay rise, announced in July, would mean an average 4 per cent increase for most staff but new inflation figures released today mean the average cost of living had increased by 10 per cent since the same time last year. Big Issue

See also:

• New RCN ballot results give clearest sign yet of strike action by nursing staff across the UK Royal College of Nursing
• Junior doctors in strike ballot threat over 'unacceptable' 2% pay rise offer Daily Mail
• Majority of GPs back taking industrial action in the coming year, poll suggests GPonline
• Millions of public sector workers to vote on strikes in ‘biggest industrial action since 1970s’ The Independent
• Nurses speak of ‘shift in appetite’ for strike action over pay Nursing Times
• ‘Agenda for Change’ contractors reject NHS pay award Pharmacy Business

UK hospitals lose millions after AI startup valuation collapses

UK hospitals lose millions after AI startup valuation collapses Two NHS hospital trusts in the UK have lost nearly £15 million ($18 million) between them due to the collapse in value of an AI startup.

Last month, The Register reported that seven NHS hospital trusts appeared to have lost millions following deals with Sensyne Health – a fledgling AI business trying to discover and develop new medicines – which saw company shares exchanged for patient data.

NHS mental health services are turning children away when they need us most

NHS mental health services are turning children away when they need us most | Tara Porter I have worked with young people for 25 years – it’s galling to see them bounced between overworked departments because their diagnosis doesn’t fit. The Guardian

Online pharmacy prescriptions have DOUBLED as patients turn to websites because they can't see a GP

Online pharmacy prescriptions have DOUBLED as patients turn to websites because they can't see a GP Patients are being put at risk because online pharmacies are dishing out drugs in dangerously high quantities and with little scrutiny, a watchdog has warned.

Twice as many prescriptions were written by pharmacy websites last year than pre-pandemic, in a sign of Britons increasingly turning to the internet after struggling to access a GP. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GPhC issues advice about risks relating to online services General Pharmaceutical Council

Genetic links can help men with higher risk of prostate cancer get early diagnosis

Genetic links can help men with higher risk of prostate cancer get early diagnosis Men at high risk of developing prostate cancer could be diagnosed earlier if genetic weaknesses were considered by GPs, research reveals.

A fifth of annual suspected prostate cancer referrals could be fast-tracked for investigation, while another 40 per cent could avoid referral and invasive biopsies if a genetic risk for cancer was included into GP triage. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Applying a genetic risk score for prostate cancer to men with lower urinary tract symptoms in primary care to predict prostate cancer diagnosis: a cohort study in the UK Biobank (open access) British Journal of Cancer

Northampton day hospice reopens after Covid closure

Northampton day hospice reopens after Covid closure A day hospice forced to close its doors due to Covid-19 has resumed face-to-face care.

The Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton moved its day services online in March 2020.

Earlier this month it fully re-introduced its physical wellbeing services for people living in the community. BBC Northampton

Postoperative nutritional management among patients with oesophago-gastric cancer in England: NOGCA short report

Postoperative nutritional management among patients with oesophago-gastric cancer in England: NOGCA short report This report provides insight into current postoperative nutritional practices in ten (27.8 per cent) oesophago-gastric cancer specialist centres across England, based on 617 patients who underwent curative surgery after being diagnosed between April 2019 and March 2020. The report found that, for patients who had oesophagectomy, the most commonly reported nutritional management strategy was enteral nutrition delivered via a jejunostomy during the admission and continued on discharge (51.0 per cent). It also found that the majority of oesophagectomy patients (83.9 per cent) had a jejunostomy or received parenteral nutrition during their surgical admission. National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit

Guidance for emergency departments: initial assessment

Guidance for emergency departments: initial assessment This guidance makes recommendations for models of initial assessment of patients arriving at emergency departments and provides standard definitions of the processes that classify as initial assessment: streaming, triage, and rapid assessment and treatment. It recognises that initial assessment and flow from the front door of a hospital are a crucial first step on a patient’s journey. NHS England

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates Latest updates on cases of monkeypox identified by the UK Health Security Agency.

Infected blood victims to get £100,000 compensation

Infected blood victims to get £100,000 compensation More than 4,000 UK victims of the infected blood scandal are to receive interim compensation of £100,000 each, the government has announced.

It will be given to those whose health is failing after developing blood-borne viruses like hepatitis and HIV, as well as partners of people who have died.

It is the first time compensation will be paid after decades of campaigning. BBC News

See also:

• Infected Blood victims to receive £100,000 interim compensation payment Cabinet Office
• Contaminated blood: If I was paid in tears I'd be a billionaire BBC News
• Survivors of contaminated blood scandal awarded interim payments The Guardian
• ‘My family was destroyed’: relatives of blood scandal victims get nothing The Guardian
• Bristol woman orphaned aged nine due to infected blood scandal denied compensation ITV News
• Infected blood victims to be offered £100,000 in government compensation Sky News

Hospitals told to slash waits as GP cancer referral rates spike

Hospitals told to slash waits as GP cancer referral rates spike Hospitals have been ordered to reduce the number of patients waiting too long for cancer investigation amid GP referral rates that are currently one fifth higher than before the pandemic.

In a letter to trusts and ICBs, sent at the end of last month, NHS England said cancer referrals ‘now constitute one in every four’ GP referrals to an acute trust. Pulse

Majority of 40 new hospitals promised by Boris Johnson in 2019 unlikely to be finished by next general election

Majority of 40 new hospitals promised by Boris Johnson in 2019 unlikely to be finished by next general election Eighty percent of the 40 new hospitals promised by the Conservatives in 2019 either do not have a completion date or are unlikely to be finished by the next general election, according to a Sky News investigation.

BCG vaccine can protect against Covid, new report finds

BCG vaccine can protect against Covid, new report finds The world may have another tool with which to fight the effects of the Covid-19 virus.

A new study published in Cell Reports Medicine has found that the Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, developed to help fight tuberculosis in the early 1900s, may offer a measure of protection against Covid and a range of other infectious diseases and bacteria by strengthening the immune system. The Independent

See also:

• Multiple BCG vaccinations for prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in Type 1 diabetes (open access) Cell Reports Medicine
• Covid vaccine: When can I get my booster jab? The Independent
• Covid-19 drug trial at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge giving hope to those who never stopped shielding ITV News
• BCG Vaccine Protects Type 1 Diabetics Against COVID-19 Technology Networks

NHS fails on mental health care targets as waiting list rises to 1.2 million

NHS fails on mental health care targets as waiting list rises to 1.2 million The number of people waiting for community mental health care has risen to 1.2 million, with the NHS missing several targets, new data reveals.

The NHS England data found the figure for those waiting for a mental health follow-up appointment or learning disability service at the end of 2021-22 was up from 1.08 million at the end of quarter three. The Independent

Dementia patients can wait up to TWO YEARS for diagnosis, audit shows

Dementia patients can wait up to TWO YEARS for diagnosis, audit shows Dementia patients face a postcode lottery of care with some waiting up to two years for a diagnosis, a damning audit reveals.

Patients are waiting an average of 17.7 weeks to find out if they have the condition after being referred to a memory assessment service, up from 13 weeks pre-pandemic.

However, the average masks a huge range in times, with some people seen immediately while others face waits of up to 104 weeks, the report reveals. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Memory Services Spotlight Audit 2021 - National Report Royal College of Psychiatrists
• National Audit of Dementia publishes Spotlight Report on Memory Assessment Services Royal College of Psychiatrists

Vaccine could ward off lyme disease to help the thousands of Britons

Vaccine could ward off lyme disease to help the thousands of Britons A vaccine designed to protect against Lyme disease is being trialled and, if successful, could be available for use in 2025.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, spread by ticks, which affects thousands of Britons every year.

There are about 1,000 laboratory-confirmed cases a year in England and Wales, although the UK Health Security Agency estimates the true number of people affected is up to four times higher. The Daily Mail