Twenty-one ‘wholly preventable’ patient safety incidents reported in private hospitals last year

Twenty-one ‘wholly preventable’ patient safety incidents reported in private hospitals last year 287 out of 595 private hospitals and NHS private patient units, accounting for 86 per cent of privately-funded care, provided information on ‘Never Events’ last year. The Independent

See also:

• New data reveals serious patient safety incidents in private acute care Private Healthcare Information Network

A dozen children under five among nearly 850 Covid-19 patients in 142 days at Northampton General Hospital

A dozen children under five among nearly 850 Covid-19 patients in 142 days at Northampton General Hospital NHS staff on the Covid-19 front line Northampton General Hospital dealt with nearly 850 patients during 142 days of the pandemic — including a dozen youngsters under five-years-old. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Four Northampton primary schools share how they are ready for the return of all children Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Mayor of Northampton thanks volunteers who have helped more than 1,000 people during the pandemic Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Will Wollaston's Covid-19 mortuary become Northamptonshire's permanent facility? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Coronavirus rates in north Northants remain "significantly higher" than England rate Northamptonshire Telegraph

How Covid-19 has magnified some of social care’s key problems

How Covid-19 has magnified some of social care’s key problems  The pandemic has shone an uncompromising light on the social care sector. In this long read Simon Bottery explores how Covid-19 has exacerbated pre-existing challenges. The King's Fund

Fixing social care: the fundamental choice

Fixing social care: the fundamental choice This report weighs up the three leading options for social care reform, ranking them by cost, political feasibility and impact on supply. It concludes that, of the options being considered, a pension-style model would be most cost-effective, while also increasing supply and meeting the increasing demand for social care. It would also better protect people’s assets and benefit a greater number of families. Centre for Policy Studies

Greater Manchester coronavirus rules 'illogical', mayor says

Greater Manchester coronavirus rules 'illogical', mayor says Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has blasted the easing of coronavirus restrictions in parts of northern England as "completely illogical".

Measures were lifted overnight in Bolton, Stockport and Trafford despite concerns from some local councils. BBC News

See also:

• NIH panel says not enough data showing plasma therapy is effective at treating coronavirus The Daily Mail
• AstraZeneca begins final trials of Oxford University coronavirus vaccine enrolling 50,000 people The Daily Mail
• NHS workers with no mask won't be paid if they need to self-isolate, warns hospital head The Daily Telegraph
• Good news for vaccine - coronavirus-fighting antibodies last longer than scientists thought The Daily Telegraph
• British holidaymakers heading to Portugal should 'only travel if they are content to unexpectedly quarantine' warns UK Ambassador The Daily Telegraph
• England test and trace system in global 'top tranche', says Hancock The Guardian
• As a paramedic in England, I’m shocked at assaults on ambulance staff during Covid The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Europe can ‘learn to live with’ Covid-19 through local lockdowns, says WHO director The Independent

Health leaders warn Boris Johnson over axing of Public Health England

Health leaders warn Boris Johnson over axing of Public Health England More than 70 organisations have written to the prime minister with concerns about the future of health improvement

The abolition of Public Health England will damage the fight against obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse, the UK’s doctors and public health experts have told the prime minister. The Guardian

NHS increasingly reliant on GPs aged over 55 as workforce crisis grows

NHS increasingly reliant on GPs aged over 55 as workforce crisis grows General practice is becoming increasingly reliant on doctors aged over 55 at a time when early retirements in the profession have surged, GPonline analysis of official workforce data shows. GPonline

Northampton council leader: 'Huge relief to see coronavirus infection rate decreasing but we are extremely worried about complacency'

Northampton council leader: 'Huge relief to see coronavirus infection rate decreasing but we are extremely worried about complacency' Northampton council's leader expressed his 'huge relief' at the town's coronavirus infection rate decreasing but he is 'extremely worried' about it going back up. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Detailed guide: Northampton: Greencore restrictions Department of Health and Social Care
• Return to schools 'will likely' lead to outbreaks of coronavirus in Northamptonshire, warns public health director Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Rise in Covid-19 cases in Corby and Kettering linked to young people socialising Northamptonshire Telegraph
• First coronavirus death at KGH in over a month Northamptonshire Telegraph

Most Approve of National Response to COVID-19 in 14 Advanced Economies

Most Approve of National Response to COVID-19 in 14 Advanced Economies Countries’ approaches to combat the spread of the coronavirus have varied throughout Europe, North America, Australia, Japan and South Korea, but most publics in these regions believe their own country has done a good job of dealing with the outbreak, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of 14 advanced economies. Overall, a median of 73% across the nations say their country has done a good job of handling novel coronavirus

See also:

• Britain and the US are bottom of the pile in rankings of how governments have handled Covid-19 The Daily Mail

The good childhood report 2020

The good childhood report 2020 This report finds that there has been a continued decrease in average happiness with life among 10-15 year olds in the UK. It discovered that 15-year olds in the UK were among the saddest and least satisfied with their lives in Europe and that the coronavirus pandemic affected children’s happiness due to the lack of choice they had in life. The Children's Society

NHS ‘lifeline’ for hundreds of stroke survivors

NHS ‘lifeline’ for hundreds of stroke survivors Hundreds of NHS patients have received personal, specialised care thanks to a new service set up during the coronavirus pandemic. Stroke Connect, a partnership with the NHS and the Stroke Association provides stroke survivors with support and advice in the early days following hospital discharge, without having to leave the house. NHS England

Funding boost for artificial intelligence in NHS to speed up diagnosis of deadly diseases

Funding boost for artificial intelligence in NHS to speed up diagnosis of deadly diseases Patients will benefit from major improvements in technology to speed up the diagnosis of deadly diseases like cancer thanks to further investment in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the NHS. Department of Health and Social Care

New measures to support development of safe COVID-19 vaccines for UK

New measures to support development of safe COVID-19 vaccines for UK A raft of measures to allow the safe future mass rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine have been outlined by the government. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Open consultation: Distributing vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and flu Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England

Coronavirus: Winter plans revealed in leaked Sage report

Coronavirus: Winter plans revealed in leaked Sage report A leaked government report suggests a "reasonable worst case scenario" of 85,000 deaths across the UK this winter due to Covid-19.

The document also says while more restrictions could be re-introduced, schools would likely remain open.

But it says the report "is a scenario, not a prediction" and the data are subject to "significant uncertainty". BBC News

See also:

• Still ill with coronavirus six months later: 'I have no idea how to get better' BBC News
• Coronavirus cases continue to level off in England - ONS BBC News
• Covid warning as a million students set for uni return BBC News
• Coronavirus: Secondary schools to move to rota system if virus cases rise BBC News
• New coronavirus cases fell most sharply in counties where people stopped going to offices The Daily Mail
• Care homes 'bribed' to take coronavirus patients The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Individual care home death figures 'kept secret' The Daily Mail
• Winter Covid surge would kill 81,000 people in reasonable worst case scenario, leaked Sage papers reveal The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock warns of extensive lockdowns if there is a second wave The Daily Telegraph
• Portugal expected to be placed back on travel ban 'red list' this week as new cases rise The Daily Telegraph
• Global coronavirus cases surpass 25 million as India sets grim record The Daily Telegraph
• Physios and paramedics could deliver flu and COVID-19 vaccines, says government GPonline
• UK records 1,715 Covid cases in largest weekend figure since mid-May The Guardian
• UK Border Force aims to check less than third of arrivals for test-and-trace forms The Guardian
• Boris Johnson urged to set out credible back-to-office plan The Guardian
• Headteachers lack confidence in NHS Test and Trace and local lockdowns iNews
• ‘You just get on with it’: The Oxford professor carrying the world’s hopes of a coronavirus vaccine The Independent
• Analysis: The government must heed the lessons from history on rushed vaccinations The Independent

Soup-and-shake diet offered on NHS to fight diabetes

Soup-and-shake diet offered on NHS to fight diabetes Thousands more people in England with type 2 diabetes will be offered the chance to try a soup-and-shake diet weight-loss plan for free on the NHS.

Studies show switching to the low-calorie liquid diet can put diabetes into remission.

Experts say they want to help people to be as fit as possible, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. BBC News

See also:

• NHS enrolls 5,000 patients in mass trial of its soups and shakes diet to REVERSE diabetes The Daily Mail
• Thousands of diabetics to be given soup-and-shake diet plan on NHS The Guardian

Hand gel mass use could create new superbugs, scientist warns

 Hand gel mass use could create new superbugs, scientist warns A scientist has warned that overuse of alcohol-based hand sanitising gel could lead to certain bacteria adapting to survive the product and could create new superbugs that could threaten public health. The Independent

'It destroys lives': why the razor-blade pain of vaginismus is so misunderstood

'It destroys lives': why the razor-blade pain of vaginismus is so misunderstood This common condition can lead to relationship breakdown and unnecessary surgery. So why is treatment still so poor and underfunded? The Guardian

M&S supplier Greencore's Covid-19 outbreak passes 300 cases

M&S supplier Greencore's Covid-19 outbreak passes 300 cases The number of workers at a sandwich making factory who have tested positive for Covid-19 has passed 300.

A first round of tests at M&S supplier Greencore, in Northampton, found 287 people had the virus.

A further 37 workers have now provided positive results following a second round of testing. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Re-testing at Greencore complete as Public Health Northamptonshire confirms results Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire's Covid-19 care home outbreaks 'no cause for concern' says public health boss Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Barton Seagrave pub confirms two coronavirus cases but rejects 'disappointing rumours' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering to get a Covid-19 regional testing centre Northamptonshire Telegraph

Here's who is eligible for a free NHS flu jab this year - and when it will be available

Here's who is eligible for a free NHS flu jab this year - and when it will be available The government wants to increase the number of people receiving the flu vaccination this year amid fears coronavirus cases could coincide with cold and flu season. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire baby deaths: Warning over sharing beds

Northamptonshire baby deaths: Warning over sharing beds The number of baby deaths with possible links to co-sleeping with parents is rising, a safeguarding board has said.

Seven infants in Northamptonshire have died unexpectedly since March, of which one is to be investigated further.

The county's safeguarding children partnership (NSCP) said most cases in the past year were not suspicious. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Safeguarding partnership gives more details about seven Northamptonshire child deaths during lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo