Monday, 17 January 2022

NHS performance summary: November - December 2021

NHS performance summary: November - December 2021 NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for November and December of 2021. Urgent and Emergency Care Daily Situation Reports were also published for the week beginning 3 January 2022, giving a more up-to-date analysis of how the NHS is coping this winter. Here we show the performance against some key targets, including those set out in the 2021/22 operational planning guidance published in September. Nuffield Trust

Plugging the gap: estimating the demand and supply of jobs by sector in 2030

Plugging the gap: estimating the demand and supply of jobs by sector in 2030 This research report projects that as a result of population ageing, Covid-19 and Brexit, the UK economy could see a shortfall of 2.6 million workers by 2030 – almost twice the workforce of the NHS. Amid continued labour market challenges, ILC calls on government to develop a comprehensive workforce strategy to tackle future shortages. International Longevity Centre-UK

New advertising drive calling on young people to Get Boosted Now

New advertising drive calling on young people to Get Boosted Now A new advertising campaign to encourage 18 to 34 year olds to get their vital COVID-19 booster jabs has launched as uptake among young people is lower than other age groups.

While more than 80% of eligible adults in England have had a booster jab, just 57% of eligible 18 to 34 year olds have been boosted. Department of Health and Social Care

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Covid in the UK: Reported cases at lowest level for a month

Covid in the UK: Reported cases at lowest level for a month The UK has reported another 81,713 coronavirus cases, the lowest daily level seen since 15 December.

The apparent ebbing of the Omicron wave comes as some experts claim the end of the pandemic is in sight for the UK.

However, the number of deaths within 28 days of a test remains high, with 1,843 over the past seven days - a 45% rise from the previous week. BBC News

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NHS Tracker: How is the NHS in your area coping this winter?

NHS Tracker: How is the NHS in your area coping this winter? A combination of winter and the ongoing Covid pandemic is placing a huge strain on hospitals.

Patients are facing long waits for emergency treatment and wards are short of beds.

Enter a postcode to find out what is happening in your area. BBC News 

Nottingham NHS trust 'told staff not to discuss bullying'

Nottingham NHS trust 'told staff not to discuss bullying' A union says confidentiality clauses are being unfairly used at an NHS trust where bullying and discrimination were highlighted in a recent inspection.

Unison said Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust uses the clauses - which it says are effectively gagging orders - in settlement agreements.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said such clauses are unacceptable. BBC News 

Revealed: Dozens of deaths and stillbirths at maternity units cost hospital trust £103m in damages over decade

Revealed: Dozens of deaths and stillbirths at maternity units cost hospital trust £103m in damages over decade More than £100 million has been paid out in damages by one hospital trust over 10 years after its maternity units were accused of being responsible for dozens of deaths and stillbirths, Channel 4 News can reveal. 

Vulnerable women starved to death in NHS hospital following 'unacceptable' failures

Vulnerable women starved to death in NHS hospital following 'unacceptable' failures “Unacceptable” failures by a mental health hospital to manage the physical healthcare of a woman detained under the mental health act contributed to her starving to death, The Independent has learned.

Heart attack patient raises alarm after NHS advised him to make own way to hospital

Heart attack patient raises alarm after NHS advised him to make own way to hospital An ambulance service has apologised after a man having a heart attack was advised to get himself to hospital or face a long wait.

Graham Reagan said his son had to drive him to hospital after being told the nearest ambulance was 30 to 40 miles away. The Guardian 

Friday, 14 January 2022

Northampton care home set six-month deadline to get better after being labelled inadequate by inspectors

Northampton care home set six-month deadline to get better after being labelled inadequate by inspectors A Northampton care home has been given a six-month deadline to improve after being placed in 'special measures.' Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton couple to run 48KM in 21 hours for neonatal ward after they saved son's life

Northampton couple to run 48KM in 21 hours for neonatal ward after they saved son's life A Northampton couple will be running 48 kilometres in 21 hours in later this year to raise funds for the Gosset Ward, at Northampton General Hospital, after staff there saved their premature baby's life. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Patients waiting for treatment face difficult journey as NHS recovery challenge grows

Patients waiting for treatment face difficult journey as NHS recovery challenge grows The situation on the ground right now across health and care services illustrates the incredibly difficult journey faced by patients waiting for treatment, and by staff in NHS and care services, given the waiting list has now reached the once unthinkable 6 million mark. Nuffield Trust

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Overcoming health inequalities in ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods

Overcoming health inequalities in ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods This report, published jointly with the Northern Health Science Alliance, shows the devastating impact of poor health for those living in deprived areas and left behind neighbourhoods (LBNs) and makes a number of recommendations to overcome the health inequalities faced by people living in these places. All-Party Parliamentary Group for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods 

    Caring in Covid

    Caring in Covid To help record and highlight the response of the not-for-profit sector, this collection of stories from NCF members describes care, communities and leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic. National Care Forum 

      Record number of NHS ambulance call outs for life-threatening conditions in December, despite jump in Omicron absences

      Record number of NHS ambulance call outs for life-threatening conditions in December, despite jump in Omicron absences NHS staff dealt with the highest ever number of life-threatening ambulance call outs last month, new figures show today. Ambulances responded to 82,000 category one calls in December, an average of one every 33 seconds and higher than any other month on record. NHS England 

      Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 negative LFD tests

      Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 negative LFD tests From Monday 17 January, people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after 5 full days, as long as they test negative on day 5 and day 6. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Covid in pregnancy linked to birth-related complications

      Covid in pregnancy linked to birth-related complications A new study has linked Covid-19 to complications during pregnancy.

      Scottish researchers found that women who catch the virus near the end of pregnancy were more vulnerable to birth-related complications.

      They are more likely to suffer them than women who catch Covid in early pregnancy or not at all. BBC News

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      Skin cancer: Newcastle University test predicts spread of melanoma

      Skin cancer: Newcastle University test predicts spread of melanoma Scientists have developed a test which reliably predicts the spread or return of the most deadly form of skin cancer.

      The Newcastle University team made the breakthrough in understanding how skin cancer tumours grow.

      The test, known as AMBLor, is applied to a standard biopsy of the primary melanoma when it is removed. BBC News 

      NHS chief warned Sajid Javid that deal for private hospitals could waste of taxpayers' money

      NHS chief warned Sajid Javid that deal for private hospitals could waste of taxpayers' money NHS England's boss told Sajid Javid the £90million a month deal to rope in private hospitals if Covid spiralled out of control could waste taxpayer money, it emerged today.

      The three-month contract sees private healthcare staff and facilities put on standby to help, should Omicron trigger unsustainable levels of hospital admissions or staff absences. The Daily Mail

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      Glandular fever may be the biggest cause of multiple sclerosis

      Glandular fever may be the biggest cause of multiple sclerosis Glandular fever may be the biggest cause of multiple sclerosis, a major study has concluded.

      Harvard scientists say they have 'compelling evidence' the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – which causes the 'kissing disease'/mononucleosis – is to blame.

      They tracked the prevalence of MS among 10million soldiers in the US military over the course of two decades. Volunteers regularly had blood tests taken to see if they had EBV.  The Daily Mail

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