Research paper suggests 4,000 Northamptonshire lives were saved by lockdown measures

Research paper suggests 4,000 Northamptonshire lives were saved by lockdown measures The Covid-19 national lockdown possibly saved 4,000 lives in Northamptonshire according to an early research paper looking into how the virus spreads. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid-19 mortality rates in Northamptonshire UK: initial sub-regional comparisons and provisional SEIR model of disease spread (open access preprint) MedRxiv
• Northamptonshire left crunching the numbers after NHS test and trace blunder Northamptonshire Telegraph
•  Here's which local areas of Northamptonshire has seen the most new Covid-19 cases in the last week Northamptonshire Telegraph

Laying foundations: Attitudes and access to mental health nurse education

Laying foundations: Attitudes and access to mental health nurse education Mental health nursing is a vital and varied profession, accounting for over a third of the mental health workforce in England. Yet the numbers choosing to study to join the profession are unable to meet sharply rising demand. This major new report, commissioned by NHS Employers and the Mental Health Network, looks at ways more people might be attracted to apply to study mental health nursing – and reasons why numbers are currently limited. Nuffield Trust 

See also:

• Mental health nurse education: perceptions, access and the pandemic Nuffield Trust

So what now?: supporting students through a global pandemic and beyond

So what now?: supporting students through a global pandemic and beyond This report finds that many student midwives are struggling under the weight of financial concerns, poor mental health and an unpredictable job market. It finds that 96 per cent of student midwives reported having mild or moderate mental health problems since the pandemic began. The survey shows that by the end of July just 36 per cent of students in their final year of midwifery training had been offered a job in the NHS. At the same time, midwifery educator numbers are not keeping pace with the rise in student midwife numbers, potentially leaving students less supported throughout their training. Royal College of Midwives

Project reset in emergency medicine: patient FIRST

Project reset in emergency medicine: patient FIRST This toolkit shares practical examples from emergency department staff to help trusts harness the learning from the Covid-19 pandemic. The resource focuses on five key areas: flow, infection control, reduced emergency department attendances, staffing and treatment. Care Quality Commission

Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of NHS care in England

Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of NHS care in England Providing equal access to healthcare to all solely on the basis of need was a founding principle of the NHS. Despite this, large differences persist in the amount of care used by people living in different areas and with different backgrounds. At this event we explored the findings of new IFS work outlining what has happened to educational inequalities in health care in England since 2002-03. Institute for Fiscal Studies

Third year of industry progress to reduce sugar published

Third year of industry progress to reduce sugar published Public Health England publishes third annual report on industry action to reduce sugar levels in products that contribute most to children’s sugar intakes.

See also:

• Research and analysis: Sugar reduction: report on progress between 2015 and 2019 Public Health England
• Sugar reduction in food well below target of 20% BBC News
• What is England's sugar target and why has the food industry missed it? The Guardian
• Only 3% sugar cut out from food products in three years, PHE finds The Guardian 

NHS to offer ‘long covid’ sufferers help at specialist centres

NHS to offer ‘long covid’ sufferers help at specialist centres People suffering ‘long covid’ symptoms will be offered specialist help at clinics across England, the head of the NHS announced today. Respiratory consultants, physiotherapists, other specialists and GPs will all help assess, diagnose and treat thousands of sufferers who have reported symptoms ranging from breathlessness, chronic fatigue, “brain fog”, anxiety and stress. NHS England 

Covid deaths three times greater than flu in 2020

Covid deaths three times greater than flu in 2020 Three times as many people have died from Covid-19 than from flu and pneumonia in England and Wales this year, according to official figures.

Between January and August 2020, there were 48,168 deaths due to Covid-19 compared to 13,600 from pneumonia. Only 394 were due to flu. 

The Office for National Statistics analysis looked at the underlying cause of death. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: How A&E is coping in the pandemic BBC News
• Coronavirus: Thousands still missing out on vital NHS care BBC News
• Covid: New restrictions for England likely next week  BBC News
• Coronavirus: Health experts join global anti-lockdown movement BBC News
• Almost 90% of coronavirus-infected patients DON'T have any symptoms The Daily Mail
• Downing Street rejects anti-lockdown petition by scientists calling for coronavirus herd immunity The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccine 'rolled out NEXT MONTH with tens of thousands getting jab every day by Christmas' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Government’s Test and Trace reaches lowest ever proportion of close contacts The Independent
• Coronavirus: 86% of people who tested positive did not have cough, fever or loss of taste or smell, new study shows The Independent

'No more clapping': Boris Johnson must pay nurses fairly, union leader pleads

 'No more clapping': Boris Johnson must pay nurses fairly, union leader pleads Boris Johnson is facing fresh demands to pay nurses fairly, with the leader of the UK’s nursing union calling on the government to reward frontline staff for their efforts during the pandemic - rather than showering them with “claps, or medals or pin badges”.

The prime minister has not yet entered into discussions with NHS bosses over pay rises sought by health unions since July, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The Independent

Court hears children cannot consent to puberty blockers

Court hears children cannot consent to puberty blockers NHS trust sued over UK’s only gender identity development service for children

The argument that children can give informed consent to the prescription of puberty blockers is a “fairy tale”, the high court has been told. The Guardian

World Mental Health Day: Where you can get mental health support 24/7

World Mental Health Day: Where you can get mental health support 24/7 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust partnered with mental health charity, Mind, to launch a mental health support number for Northamptonshire residents.

Anyone in Northamptonshire can receive mental health support by calling one number at any time - 0800 448 0828. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton bar fined after 'string of breaches' against Covid restrictions

 Northampton bar fined after 'string of breaches' against Covid restrictions A bar in Northampton has been fined after failing to comply with the Government's Covid-19 restrictions.

Jimmy's Sports Bar in Harlestone Road, St James has been served with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice after several visits from Environmental Health Officers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Kettering CCTV monitoring shoppers and bus passengers' face mask compliance Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Face masks become less effective in the rain - here’s what experts are saying Northamptonshire Telegraph

Two-fifths of patients waiting for mental health treatment forced to resort to emergency or crisis services

Two-fifths of patients waiting for mental health treatment forced to resort to emergency or crisis services  Two-fifths of patients waiting for mental health treatment contact emergency or crisis services, with one-in-nine (11%) ending up in A&E, research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found.

A Savanta ComRes poll of 513 British adults diagnosed with a mental illness also reveals the damaging consequences that hidden waiting lists - the wait between referral and second appointments – have on the lives of patients living with severe or common mental illness.

See also:

• One in four waiting three months or more for mental health help The Guardian

Pandemic fatigue: Reinvigorating the public to prevent COVID-19

Pandemic fatigue: Reinvigorating the public to prevent COVID-19 Despite documented public support for pandemic response strategies across the WHO European Region, Member States are reporting signs of pandemic fatigue in their populations – here defined as demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviours, emerging gradually over time and affected by a number of emotions, experiences and perceptions.

This document provides a framework for the planning and implementation of national and subnational strategies to maintain and reinvigorate public support to prevent COVID-19. World Health Organization Europe

See also:

• Coronavirus: Europe experiencing 'pandemic fatigue' BBC News

The Chancellor’s post-pandemic choices

The Chancellor’s post-pandemic choices This briefing uses historical data and analysis to identify those policies that could maximise government revenue growth following the coronavirus crisis. It includes an analysis of public finances. Institute of Economic Affairs

Government invests in UK-developed antibody tests from UK Rapid Test Consortium

Government invests in UK-developed antibody tests from UK Rapid Test Consortium The government has signed a deal with the UK-RTC for 1 million antibody tests, Health Minister Lord Bethell has announced.

The home antibody tests will be rolled out as part of the government’s COVID-19 surveillance studies to help build a picture of how the virus has spread across the country and further develop our understanding of how antibodies work. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: NHS tests threatened by Roche supply chain failing

Covid-19: NHS tests threatened by Roche supply chain failing Coronavirus swabs and other key NHS tests for conditions including cancer are under threat, after a supply chain failure at a major diagnostics company.

Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche said problems with a move to a new warehouse had led to a "very significant" drop in its processing capacity.

A spokesperson said Covid-19 tests would be prioritised, but it could take two weeks to fix the issue. BBC News

See also:

• Covid hospital cases jump 25% in a day in England BBC News
• Covid can be airborne, US CDC guidelines now say BBC News
• East Kent Hospitals Trust: Covid-19 practice failings revealed by inspection BBC News
• Coronavirus: Scientists to map hospital spread BBC News
• Why Scotland isn't faring much better than England despite Nicola Sturgeon's 'zero-Covid' approach The Daily Telegraph
• UK to buy 1m antibody home tests despite accuracy concerns The Guardian
• UK government 'thwarting independent labs' efforts to step up Covid-19 testing' The Guardian
• Global shortage of key Covid drug leads to NHS rationing The Guardian
• Ingenuity in a crisis: how Covid forced NHS trusts to innovate The Guardian
• Further restrictions may be needed to protect NHS, expert warns The Independent

Nearly half of NHS Trusts reported risks classified as ‘significant’, Labour analysis shows

Nearly half of NHS Trusts reported risks classified as ‘significant’, Labour analysis shows Almost half of NHS Trusts in England have reported risks classified as “significant” or “extreme”, with issues facing funding, buildings and failing equipment, according to an analysis by Labour.

Highlighting warnings of staff shortages and patient safety, the party demanded urgent action from the government to prepare the health service for the winter months as cases of Covid-19 accelerate across the country. The Independent

NHS in England cannot cope without more funds, PM told

NHS in England cannot cope without more funds, PM told Boris Johnson urged to abandon ‘have our cake and eat it’ approach and recognise pressures on health service.

Boris Johnson has been warned he must give the NHS more money and not pursue a “have our cake and eat it” policy of thinking it can deliver Covid care within existing budgets.

The plea came from Chris Hopson, the leader of England’s hospital bosses, who said the extra £20.5bn the NHS was promised in 2018 was no longer enough to let it do its job. The Guardian

Thousands of patients affected by GP surgery closures, figures show

 Thousands of patients affected by GP surgery closures, figures show An estimated 350,000 patients were forced to move to a new GP surgery over the past year due to closures, figures suggest.

Data obtained by Pulse Healthcare under Freedom of Information laws shows 99 GP surgeries were closed in the UK throughout 2019, down from 138 the year before. The Independent

See also:

• Further practice closures cannot be ruled out if the pressures facing general practice are not addressed, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners