Covid: Boris Johnson plans to 'ride out' Omicron wave with no more curbs

Covid: Boris Johnson plans to 'ride out' Omicron wave with no more curbs Boris Johnson says he hopes England can "ride out" the current wave of Covid-19 without further restrictions.

But he acknowledged parts of the NHS would feel "temporarily overwhelmed" amid a surge of Omicron cases.

The prime minister said there was a "good chance" he would not impose fresh measures and would recommend continuing the government's "Plan B" strategy in England to ministers on Wednesday. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Six hospital trusts declare 'critical incident' over staff shortages BBC News
• Covid: Critical incidents declared over staff shortages BBC News
• Covid: Greater Manchester pauses non-urgent surgery BBC News
• Covid: Israel Omicron spike could bring herd immunity but with risks - health boss BBC News
• Covid 19: Lateral flow tests 'very accurate for positive cases' BBC News
• Covid: Vaccines for all every four to six months not needed, says expert BBC News
• Covid England: Up to 85% of Omicron hospitalisations have NOT had booster vaccine, data shows The Daily Mail
• WHO hails 'good news' that ultra-infectious variant is less likely to penetrate deep into lungs The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases rise by another 45% in a week to 157,758 The Daily Mail
• Private firms tasked with helping NHS during the Covid pandemic pocketed £72million in furlough The Daily Mail
• Fourth Covid jab: We can’t vaccinate the planet every six months, says JCVI chief The Daily Telegraph
• Can the UK cope with the Omicron surge? The Guardian
• Parts of NHS may be overwhelmed by Covid wave, admits Boris Johnson The Guardian
• NHS is in crisis but the roots go much further back than Omicron The Guardian
• UK Covid test distributor shut for Christmas after receiving 2.5m kits The Guardian
• Plan B is working, says minister despite NHS trusts declaring critical incidents The Independent
• IHU: How dangerous is new Covid variant and where has it spread? The Independent

Revealed: More than 300m expired PPE items in UK stockpile

Revealed: More than 300m expired PPE items in UK stockpile More than 300m items of PPE in the government's national stockpile cannot be used by frontline health workers because they have passed their expiry date, The Independent can reveal. 

Lockdown hobbies led to thousands of injuries in England, NHS data suggests

Lockdown hobbies led to thousands of injuries in England, NHS data suggests Popular lockdown pursuits such as cooking, DIY and buying pets led to thousands of people needing hospital care for injuries, figures suggest.

Analysis of hospital admissions in England by the PA Media news agency showed that thousands were treated for injuries sustained as a result of activities that surged in popularity as people were confined to their homes. The Guardian 

NHS unable to treat every child with eating disorder as cases soar

NHS unable to treat every child with eating disorder as cases soar The NHS can no longer treat every child with an eating disorder, a leading psychiatrist has warned, as “worrying” figures reveal hospital admissions have risen 41% in a year.

A dramatic surge in cases during the pandemic has left already struggling community services overstretched with many unable to care for everyone who requires help, experts said. The Guardian

See also: 

• Hospital admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of eating disorders NHS Digital

Life-extending prostate drug is ruled out for NHS use as officials deem it's not worth the money

Life-extending prostate drug is ruled out for NHS use as officials deem it's not worth the money A life-extending prostate cancer drug has been rejected for use on the NHS after officials ruled it is not worth the money.

The innovative drug is the first ‘precision treatment’ for the disease, which treats men based on the genetic make-up of their cancer.

It has already been approved for use in Scotland but will not be available to men in England and Wales. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Olaparib for previously treated, hormone-relapsed metastatic prostate cancer with homologous recombination repair gene mutations [ID1640] NICE

Wishing all our readers a very happy Christmas

We would like to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. 

Our health news service will be taking a break over the Christmas holiday but we will be back on Wednesday the 5th of January in what we hope will be a better 2022 for everyone.

The Library Team 

People with Omicron variant 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised, UKHSA says

People with Omicron variant 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised, UKHSA says People are 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised with Omicron compared to previous strains of Covid-19, according to new evidence by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid-19: Is it safe to have an unvaccinated guest at home? BBC Cambridgeshire
• This is when Boris Johnson is expected to make an announcement on Covid rules for England Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Care workers in Northamptonshire to get £600 bonus for 'powering through' Covid-19 pandemic Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Councillor fears over Omicron spread in 'too small' meeting rooms, as Corby Cube remains closed Northamptonshire Telegraph

Thief jailed for stealing laptops and phones after office break-in at Northampton General Hospital

Thief jailed for stealing laptops and phones after office break-in at Northampton General Hospital A callous thief has been jailed for breaking into an office at Northampton General Hospital and staling phones and laptops from the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What just happened? Health and care policy in 2021

What just happened? Health and care policy in 2021 A podcast that takes a look over the year that was in health and care, 2021. Helen McKenna and Siva Anandaciva, two of The King’s Fund’s leading policy experts, review the key themes of 2021; Covid-19, waiting times and performance, the reform agenda, funding and the workforce.

RCP survey finds one in ten doctors off work

RCP survey finds one in ten doctors off work RCP’s thirteenth survey of members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that absence due to illness is rising, particularly in London.

Across the UK, more than 1 in 10 (10.5%) doctors are off work and 1 in 24 (4.2%) due to COVID. In London these figures increase to 1 in 7 (13.9%) off work and 1 in 13 (7.4%) due to COVID. Royal College of Physicians

UK hits 30 million boosters as push continues to Get Boosted Now

UK hits 30 million boosters as push continues to Get Boosted Now More than 30 million people – over 56% of adults in the UK – have now had their COVID-19 booster during a record-breaking week for top-up jabs. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research: COVID-19: Omicron daily overview UK Health Security Agency
• Latest REACT-1 findings show Omicron infections rising fast, while highlighting success of vaccination programmes UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

Omicron: Good news, bad news and what it all means

Omicron: Good news, bad news and what it all means The world is being hit by a tsunami of Omicron. Scientists, politicians and indeed all of us are grappling with what it means for our lives.

Restrictions are tightening in parts of the UK and other European countries in order to tackle the new variant.

There's a constant stream of new information - some worrying, some positive. So where do we stand? BBC News

See also:

• Rising numbers of NHS staff off work due to Covid BBC News
• Omicron: 'First signs of cautious optimism' - Dr Susan Hopkins BBC News
• Covid: Booster rollout to continue on Christmas Day BBC News
• Omicron up to 70% less likely to need hospital care BBC News
• Half of colds will be Covid, warn UK researchers BBC News
• Covid cases in South Africa's ground zero fall rapidly one month after its outbreak The Daily Mail
• One in three Britons believe the pandemic will never end, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• UK records 119,789 new Covid cases in one day, its highest total ever The Guardian
• Keep Christmas plans small to help NHS fight Omicron, doctors plead The Guardian
• Voices of Covid doctors: 'It was always about trying to save you' – video The Guardian
• Vallance hits back at Tory accusations of Omicron fear-mongering The Guardian
• Hospitals face being ‘overwhelmed’, Javid warns amid soaring NHS staff sickness as Omicron spreads on wards The Independent
• Omicron is latest blow to pandemic-weary front-line workers The Independent
• We will have to keep turning to lockdowns until the government boosts the NHS's capacity to deal with Covid iNews

Surgeons use 3D technology on patient for first time

Surgeons use 3D technology on patient for first time An 11-year-old has become the first patient in the country to have kidney surgery using specialist 3D equipment.

Libby, from Watchet, Somerset, was suffering from kidney and bladder complications which meant she was often in severe pain.

Surgeons were able to operate on her faster and with greater accuracy using 3D technology during keyhole surgery. BBC News

West Suffolk hospital chair resigns after whistleblowing scandal

West Suffolk hospital chair resigns after whistleblowing scandal The chair of West Suffolk hospital trust has resigned over a whistleblowing scandal exposed by the Guardian, as fresh questions are asked over why the trust continues to pay at least £270,000 a year to its former chief executive.

Sheila Childerhouse was criticised by an independent NHS report for her failure to question senior executives who had hounded Dr Patricia Mills after Mills had raised concerns about a colleague seen injecting himself with drugs while on duty.

Ministers choose top banker with 'an outsider's eye' to run NHS England

Ministers choose top banker with 'an outsider's eye' to run NHS England A senior British banker is set to become the new chairman of NHS England, after ministers sought an “outside eye” to make the health service accountable for its additional funding.

Richard Meddings, a former chairman of TSB Bank, is the Government’s preferred candidate for the role, which will become vacant early next year when the current incumbent, Lord Prior of Brampton, steps down early. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Sajid Javid wants ex-TSB boss Richard Meddings - who presided over the bank's infamous IT meltdown - for top NHS England chairman job The Daily Mail
• Ex-TSB boss Richard Meddings lined up for NHS England chairman role The Independent

Christmas Day freedom for more than 2,500 in Northamptonshire after Covid self-isolation period cut from ten days to just a week

Christmas Day freedom for more than 2,500 in Northamptonshire after Covid self-isolation period cut from ten days to just a week More than 2,500 people could be free to enjoy Christmas Day across Northamptonshire after ministers reduced the ten-day self-isolation requirement to a week. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• NHS bosses in East of England asked to find extra Covid beds BBC News
• Omicron is now the dominant strain of Covid in England, figures suggest Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Children to be offered Covid vaccine as JCVI issues new advice Northamptonshire Telegraph

Rise deaths of people waiting for drug treatment in Northamptonshire, figures show

Rise deaths of people waiting for drug treatment in Northamptonshire, figures show The number of people who died while undergoing drug treatment in Northamptonshire has risen, figures show.

Amid a rise in fatalities nationally, drug reform charity Release warned that drug-related death rates are higher among those not in contact with treatment services. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton neighbourhood slams NHS staff over six-year parking 'nightmare' in busy estate

Northampton neighbourhood slams NHS staff over six-year parking 'nightmare' in busy estate A Northampton neighbourhood has spoken out about the 'nightmare' that rogue car parking is having on their estate. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Bridging the gap: protecting the nation from public health threats

Bridging the gap: protecting the nation from public health threats This report examines the UK’s policies and approach to health protection including the availability of the specialist resources, knowledge and skills needed to tackle the many diverse and challenging public health threats. Deloitte

Government sets clear ambition to close gender health gap

Government sets clear ambition to close gender health gap Decades of gender health inequality will be addressed as the government publishes its vision to reset the dial on women’s health.

The Vision for Women’s Health sets out key government commitments on women’s health, while recognising the system wide changes needed to tackle some of the issues raised, to be addressed by the upcoming Women’s Health Strategy in spring 2022. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Our Vision for the Women’s Health Strategy for England Department of Health and Social Care
• Consultation outcome: Women's Health Strategy: Call for Evidence Department of Health and Social Care
• Women's health ambassador appointment to improve care BBC News
• NHS 'has been neglecting women's health for decades': Ministers pledge to end sexism and stigma The Daily Mail
• Ministers pledge to ‘reset the dial’ on women’s health in England The Guardian
• A strategy for women’s health in England: six areas of focus The Guardian
• Finally the UK has noticed its rampant sexism in healthcare. What now? The Guardian