Can the real ‘anchor institutions’ stand up?

Can the real ‘anchor institutions’ stand up? In 2004, Kevin Bond became the general manager for mental health services in Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire: a typical set of ‘Cinderella’ services, understaffed, underfunded, and discretely hidden in a large hospital trust. Kevin was determined to right institutional injustices for people with mental health problems. The King's Fund

Building a Better Future for Nursing: RCN members have their say

Building a Better Future for Nursing: RCN members have their say This report details the findings of the Building a Better Future survey which was open to all RCN members from May to June 2020. It explores data from the survey, including initial comparisons between different settings and experiences during the pandemic and includes details on the RCN’s plans for the next steps. Royal College of Nursing

COVID-19 and the female health and care workforce

COVID-19 and the female health and care workforce The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on health and care staff. In June the Health & Care Women Leaders Network (HCWLN) commissioned a survey to better understand the impact the pandemic has had on women working across health and care services.

Over 1,300 women responsed, this report and accompanying slide deck explain the findings. The report describes the struggles, pains and fears women working in health and care services have faced during the pandemic. The physical and emotional impact due to caring responsibilities both in and outside of work are significant. It also draws out some of the positive experiences, such as opportunities for learning and the strength of support many have received from their managers. NHS Confederation

See also:

• Survey of female NHS staff raises concerns over burnout in pandemic The Guardian

The experience of care home staff during Covid-19

The experience of care home staff during Covid-19 In May and June of 2020, a survey was carried out to understand more about the impact of Covid-19 on the care home nurse workforce within the UK. This survey was launched in the early weeks of the pandemic in response to grave concerns about the safety of the workforce and the gaps in provision that it was facing. The survey responses in the report confirm that for the majority of respondents, the pandemic has been a very challenging experience. They indicated that their work and wellbeing has been worse or much worse than at normal times, during the survey period. Queen's Nursing Institute

Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports

Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports National COVID-19 surveillance reports, including weekly summary of findings monitored through various COVID-19 surveillance systems. Public Health England

One in eight hospital virus cases 'caught on-site'

One in eight hospital virus cases 'caught on-site' Thousands of patients are likely to have been infected with coronavirus in UK hospitals, a study suggests.

The King's College London study of 10 UK hospital sites plus one in Italy found at least one in eight patients who had received hospital treatment for coronavirus had caught it on-site.

Researchers said that was a relatively low rate and showed there was effective infection control in place. BBC News

See also:

• Nosocomial COVID-19 infection: examining the risk of mortality. The COPE-Nosocomial Study (COVID in Older PEople) (open access) The Journal of Hospital Infection
• Hong Kong reports 'first case' of virus reinfection BBC News
• Coronavirus: Dr Anthony Fauci warns against rushing out vaccine BBC News
• Heads want to know if masks allowed in school BBC News
• Matt Hancock launches 'Operation Moon Shot' plan to test four MILLION people every day within months The Daily Mail
• NHS Test and Trace is directing people to Covid-19 test centres up to 175 miles away The Daily Mail
• Health chiefs defied Sage advice on hospital tests The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus home test kits run out in England and Scotland The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Thousands of health and care staff infected at work, new data shows The Independent
• Coronavirus: Scotland considers mandatory face masks in high schools as 22 teachers and pupils test positive in outbreak The Independent
• Coronavirus: Treatment hailed by Trump as 'breakthrough' is 'not conclusive', NHS says Sky News

From cancer and Covid to dementia, BAME patients are shamefully more at risk

From cancer and Covid to dementia, BAME patients are shamefully more at risk Moise Roche says that if ever he thought he was losing his memory and had dementia, there’s ‘no way’ he’d see a doctor about it.

A researcher in mental health based at University College London, he has published a number of papers in prestigious medical journals focusing on dementia in Black, African and Caribbean (BAC) populations.

While a little over 50 per cent of white people in the UK with dementia are diagnosed and treated, that number is vastly lower among those from ethnic minority groups. The Daily Mail

Government escalates Northampton onto 'Area of Intervention' list over Covid-19 infection rates

Government escalates Northampton onto 'Area of Intervention' list over Covid-19 infection rates The Government has escalated Northampton from an 'area of concern' to an 'area of intervention' over its Covid-19 infection rates.

The town has been added to a to the Government's watchlist after the borough's infection rate has risen for the fourth week in a row. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Detailed guide: Northampton: what you can and cannot do Department of Health and Social Care
• Northampton factory at centre of Covid-19 outbreak to temporarily close BBC Northampton
• NHS staff sign up to Covid-19 sniffer dog trial BBC Northampton
• Greencore employees were 'car-sharing with staff from another Northampton workplace that has also had coronavirus outbreak' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton council leader 'grateful' government has not put town into lockdown but warned more measures could come Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• KGH lands major role in Covid-19 sniffer dog trial Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Recruitment agencies asked to restrict workers in bid to stop Covid-19 transmission Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering bar shuts after worker tests positive for Covid Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Higham Ferrers pub facing action after major breach of social distancing laws Northamptonshire Telegraph

The future of public health

The future of public health Like many others, The King’s Fund was surprised to say the least, at plans to dismantle the nation’s public health agency in the middle of a pandemic. The Secretary of State’s justification for it, bringing together health protection expertise into one place, must be set against many other risks and uncertainties. The King's Fund

See also:

• Strengthening health protection: right idea, wrong time The King's Fund

West Midlands inquiry into Covid-19 fatalities in the BAME community

West Midlands inquiry into Covid-19 fatalities in the BAME community A task force has found that the disproportionate number of Covid deaths in Black and ethnic minority communities in the West Midlands were avoidable. The report calls for an independent public inquiry into the disproportionate number of BAME Covid fatalities and demanded urgent action be taken to protect communities ahead of a potential second wave of the virus. Labour List

Rapid report: learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK

Rapid report: learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK This rapid report aims to identify lessons learned to guide future care and pathway changes in the context of infection transmission and the need for public health and NHS service measures to prevent infection. Please note that free registration is required to access this document. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

Covid-19 and English council funding: how are budgets being hit in 2020–21?

Covid-19 and English council funding: how are budgets being hit in 2020–21? This report examines the scale and nature of forecast impacts on spending and income from sales, fees and charges and commercial and other sources. It explores how impacts may vary across council types, regions and council characteristics and considers the implications for future funding policy. Institute for Fiscal Studies

Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on schools and childcare reopening

Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on schools and childcare reopening Statement from the Chief Medical Officers and Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the evidence of risks and benefits to health from schools and childcare settings reopening. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Study finds very low numbers of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools Public Health England
• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in educational settings Public Health England

More than half a billion pounds to help people return home from hospital

More than half a billion pounds to help people return home from hospital People needing additional follow-on care after being discharged from hospital will be supported by a £588 million fund to cover adult social care or the immediate costs of care in their own home. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS sees increase of more than 13000 nurses in the last year

NHS sees increase of more than 13000 nurses in the last year According to newly-published employment figures from up until the end of May, the number of nurses in the NHS in England has increased by 13,840 compared with last year – while the number of doctors has risen by 9,306 too. National Health Executive

US allows emergency use of blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients

US allows emergency use of blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency authorisation for the use of plasma to treat coronavirus patients.

The technique uses antibody-rich blood plasma from people who've recovered from the disease, and has already been used on over 70,000 people in the US. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus will be with us forever, Sage scientist warns BBC News
• Coronavirus pandemic could be over within two years - WHO head BBC News
• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says it is 'vitally important' children return to class BBC News
• Coronavirus antibodies tests 'put public at risk' BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'I became alcoholic during lockdown' BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: SAGE fears R rate could be as high as 1.1 The Daily Mail
• WHO official urges young people not to feel 'invincible' against Covid-19 The Daily Mail
• NHS sickness rates hit decade high amid Covid-19 crisis
• When will the UK lockdown next be reviewed? The Daily Telegraph
• Care homes 'were bullied into accepting patients with coronavirus' The Daily Telegraph
• Cross-party MPs to sue UK government for details of Covid PPE contracts The Guardian 
• 'It was an act of principle': The Covid doctor who quit over Cummings The Guardian 
• Coronavirus cases in England increase by 27% in a week The Guardian 
• UK families bereaved by Covid-19 lose eligibility for welfare benefits The Guardian

Cystic fibrosis drug Kaftrio to be available on NHS after European licence granted

Cystic fibrosis drug Kaftrio to be available on NHS after European licence granted UK health bodies already have deals in place with maker Vertex to secure access.

The European commission has licensed a new, potentially lifesaving drug to treat cystic fibrosis, meaning it will be available on the NHS to many who have the condition. The Guardian

Children's tooth decay costs NHS more than £40m a year in England

Children's tooth decay costs NHS more than £40m a year in England Hospitals carried out 177 operations a day to remove more than one tooth from under-18s in 2018/19

Hospitals in England carried out almost 180 operations a day on children and teenagers last year to remove rotting teeth, costing the NHS more than £40m. The Guardian

Patient found dead in hospital showers two days after he was reported missing

 Patient found dead in hospital showers two days after he was reported missing A patient was found dead in a hospital shower block two days after he was reported missing from his ward, an inquest has heard.
 
Rory McLeod, 52, was the subject of a police search before he was discovered inside a locked shower cubicle at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. The Independent

Transgender charities having to 'make up for shortcomings' of the NHS

Transgender charities having to 'make up for shortcomings' of the NHS Transgender people could be left with ‘distressing’ waits to see a specialist as spiralling appointment delays mount amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Support groups are witnessing cases of self-harm and suicidal thoughts among children and teenagers who do not know when they will be able to see a gender identity specialist. iNews