Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review This report looks at the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for people with a mental health condition, a learning disability or autistic people. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• CQC report: Care of people with learning disabilities 'inhumane' BBC News

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review NHS Employers commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to investigate the evidence-base of health and wellbeing interventions used in healthcare and their implications for wellbeing outcomes. The findings in the report add to current knowledge about wellbeing interventions that are commonly implemented, if there is any evidence of their efficacy, and what future research still needs to be undertaken in this area. Institute for Employment Studies

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life This report looks at the life events and circumstances that can affect people's mental health in later life, including bereavement, loneliness, ill health and caring responsibilities. Focusing mainly on anxiety and depression, the report also describes people’s mixed experiences of seeking support from GPs, therapists and other services. It highlights the common barriers and makes recommendations for what needs to change to improve support for older people and ensure they can live a mentally healthy later life. Independent Age

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health This research finds that some older people are coping with the pandemic, but a sizeable minority are finding life incredibly tough. Those who are not very well and have long term health conditions were particularly likely to report that this is an extremely challenging time for them. The research was made up of a survey of older people, their friends, families, and loved ones (promoted across the Age UK social media channels for two weeks in August 2020 and completed by 569 people) and representative online polling of 1,364 people over the age of 60, conducted by Kantar Polling in September 2020. Age UK

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff NHS staff will get rapid access to expanded mental health services that are being rolled out across the country as part of efforts to deal with the second wave of coronavirus. NHS England and NHS Improvement will invest an extra £15 million to strengthen mental health support for nurses, paramedics, therapists, pharmacists, and support staff. NHS England

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released The Health Secretary is urging the public – and especially young people – to follow the rules and protect themselves and others from COVID-19, as new data and a new film released today reveal the potentially devastating long-term impact of the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism'

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism' A scientist advising the government on ethnicity and Covid says "structural racism is not a reasonable explanation" for black and south Asian people's greater risk of illness and death.

An earlier report by Public Health England said racism may contribute to the unequal death toll. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: UK on course for 'tens of thousands' more deaths BBC News
• Covid: No safety concerns found with Oxford vaccine trial after Brazil death BBC News
• Long Covid: Who is more likely to get it? BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: 26,688 new cases and 191 deaths in daily toll The Daily Mail
• One in ten under-50s will be struck by 'long Covid', data shows The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson's three-tier lockdown system is 'the worst of all worlds', SAGE member warns The Daily Mail
• Parents struggle to get help for mentally ill children during pandemic The Guardian
• Warning of tens of thousands of deaths in England from Covid-19 second wave The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Scientists identify human protein ‘which makes Covid highly infectious’ The Independent
• Coronavirus: Test and trace forced to bring in untrained workers as system is overwhelmed by second wave, leaked email reveals The Independent

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing'

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing' The pandemic is an opportunity to reset policy to tackle the “chronic, enduring problems” that nurses face, according to Anne Marie Rafferty, professor of nursing policy at King’s College London and president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

“If I can use this phrase, Covid should be the circuit breaker for many of the ills which have plagued the profession for many years: let’s make that happen.”Rafferty, who received a damehood for services to nursing in the Queen’s birthday honours list earlier this month, wants to see tangible recognition of the contributions that frontline nursing colleagues make. The Guardian

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs Full cost of adequately funding sector is likely to run into tens of billions, committee says

A cross-party group of MPs have called for an urgent multibillion-pound injection into England’s crisis-hit social care system to address rising levels of need among older and disabled people and to improve pay and skills for care workers.

The health and social care select committee said ministers should invest at least £7bn a year in the care sector by 2023-24, though it said this was only a “starting point” and that it would not address unmet care needs nor improve access to care. The Guardian

Coronavirus outbreaks in Northamptonshire care homes rise

Coronavirus outbreaks in Northamptonshire care homes rise Coronavirus outbreaks in Northamptonshire care homes are on the rise again.

Latest official data released by the county’s public health team has shown that in the week until October 11 there were 12 Covid-19 outbreaks at Northamptonshire care homes, with 44 recorded cases in total. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• How to report people in Northamptonshire for breaking Covid-19 rules Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton school closed to all pupils with immediate effect Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Patrollers at Weston Favell Shopping Centre in Northampton are doubling down on efforts to encourage customers to wear masks Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Coronavirus outbreaks confirmed at ten Northamptonshire schools Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hundreds of Northants women suspected of having breast cancer were not screened in required time during pandemic

Hundreds of Northants women suspected of having breast cancer were not screened in required time during pandemic More than 200 women urgently referred to Northampton General Hospital (NGH) with suspected breast cancer had to wait longer than they should have for screening this spring and summer. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Advancing mental health equalities strategy

Advancing mental health equalities strategy This strategy summarises the core actions all mental health services need to take to better address inequalities in access, experience and outcomes across the sector. It is also an important element of the overall NHS plans to accelerate action to address health inequalities in the next stage of responding to Covid-19. NHS England

Consultant workforce shortages and solutions: now and in the future

Consultant workforce shortages and solutions: now and in the future The NHS workforce faces a perfect storm of consultants choosing to retire earlier, a significant proportion approaching retirement age and a growing trend of younger doctors walking away from their career. Covid-19 added significant additional pressure on the workforce with doctors working long hours, in new settings, whilst risking their own lives. Now the NHS is facing a growing backlog of unmet need on top of the existing staffing and resourcing shortages. This report sets out the actions government and employers need to take, now and in the future, to ensure consultants are retained in the NHS. British Medical Association

See also:

• NHS facing ‘catastrophic shortage’ of top hospital doctors Metro

Caring behind closed doors: six months on. The continued impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on unpaid carers

Caring behind closed doors: six months on. The continued impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on unpaid carers Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of carers have had to provide more care. It has left many exhausted and close to burning out according to a new report. They urgently need more support to help them through winter. Carers UK

See also:

• Covid: Burn-out fears of 'exhausted' unpaid carers BBC News

Endometriosis in the UK: time for change

Endometriosis in the UK: time for change An inquiry by the APPG on Endometriosis has highlighted the devastating impact endometriosis can have on all aspects of a person’s life. The inquiry surveyed over 10,000 people with endometriosis, interviewed healthcare practitioners and those with the condition about their experiences. Amongst the findings was that average diagnosis times for endometriosis have not improved in over a decade and it still takes eight years on average to get a diagnosis. The inquiry report sets out a series of support measures it asks all UK governments to commit to. All Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis

Delays and destitution: an audit of Doctors of the World's Hospital Access Project (July 2018-20)

Delays and destitution: an audit of Doctors of the World's Hospital Access Project (July 2018-20) This report finds that migrants living in extremely vulnerable circumstances in England are waiting up to 224 weeks to receive medical care because of laws forcing hospitals to carry out immigration checks and withhold care from patients deemed not eligible for free NHS treatment – even when the patient has no income, or the upfront payment would push them into severe debt or further poverty. Doctors of the World

Deaths at home: More than 26,000 extra this year, ONS finds

Deaths at home: More than 26,000 extra this year, ONS finds More men than normal are dying at home from heart disease in England and Wales, and more women are dying from dementia and Alzheimer's, figures show.

More than 26,000 extra deaths occurred in private homes this year, an analysis by the Office for National Statistics found. BBC News

See also:

• Deaths in private homes, England and Wales (provisional): deaths registered from 28 December 2019 to 11 September 2020 Office for National Statistics
• A third more deaths occurring at home than before Covid in England The Guardian
• Deaths at home from dementia and Alzheimer's soar during coronavirus The Independent

UK plan to be first to run human challenge Covid trials

UK plan to be first to run human challenge Covid trials The UK is pushing ahead to be the first nation to carry out "human challenge" studies where up to 90 healthy people will be deliberately exposed to Covid.

The trials, which could begin in January, aim to speed up the race to get a Covid-19 vaccine. BBC News

See also:

• Expert partnership to explore and establish Human Challenge studies of COVID-19 in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid: England boosting plasma stocks for patients BBC News
• Covid: Noon deadline approaches for Manchester coronavirus deal BBC News
• Covid-19: First UK airport coronavirus testing begins BBC News
• Covid; Wales told to stay home in circuit-breaker lockdown BBC News
• Daily coronavirus infection rates are higher in the UK, Europe, than in the US The Daily Mail
• Mass testing and a better contact tracing programme could slash UK's R rate in HALF, SAGE says The Daily Mail
• Operation Moonshot: pilot of rapid Covid tests under way in NHS hospitals The Guardian
• What are the rules of Wales's circuit breaker coronavirus lockdown? The Guardian
• Coronavirus: ‘Unlikely’ that vaccine will be able to completely stop spread of virus, says chief government scientist The Independent
• ‘Putting lives at risk’: Ministers deny coronavirus tests for care home inspectors The Independent

Cold-water swimming could delay dementia, research suggests

Cold-water swimming could delay dementia, research suggests Cold-water swimming could help to delay neuro-degenerative diseases such as dementia, research has suggested.

Academics at Cambridge University found that many of the cold-water swimmers they monitored at Parliament Hill Lido in London between 2016 and 2018 had increased levels of a “cold-shock” protein (RBM3), which a 2015 study on mice showed offered protection against the onset of dementia. The Independent

See also:

• Could cold water hold a clue to a dementia cure? BBC News

Boy who prompted law change on medicinal cannabis receives NHS prescription two years on

Boy who prompted law change on medicinal cannabis receives NHS prescription two years on Billy Caldwell, 15, will receive his first bottle of cannabis oil under the new care plan exactly two years after it was legalised. The Daily Telegraph