Health chief reveals 'significant increase' in Covid-19 outbreaks in Northamptonshire hospitals

Health chief reveals 'significant increase' in Covid-19 outbreaks in Northamptonshire hospitals NHS staff at Northamptonshire's hospitals are battling a "significant increase" in Covid-19 outbreaks.

Public Health Director Lucy Wightman will tell Friday's weekly NCC press briefing "The position has unfortunately deteriorated in the last few days." Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• NHS confirms four more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• One area of Northamptonshire has DOUBLE the national average of new Covid cases Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Why we make the decisions we do to fight pandemic in Northamptonshire': Health director's new column Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Google Maps now tells you how crowded public transport is - and Covid case numbers in your area Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital cancer referrals rise above pre-pandemic levels

Northampton General Hospital cancer referrals rise above pre-pandemic levels The number of people sent for urgent cancer investigations at Northampton General Hospital has risen above pre-pandemic levels, new figures show. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

The future of integrated care in England

The future of integrated care in England With the Government expected to introduce new primary legislation affecting the NHS over the coming year, NHS leaders have set out the factors they believe should be central to a new framework for integrated care systems (ICSs) in this report summarising feedback from a six-month engagement process. The report argues that joint working across health and care should be embedded in law and encouraged through a new statutory duty for all providers, commissioners and other partners in local systems. NHS Confederation

The Covid-19 long-term care situation in England

The Covid-19 long-term care situation in England This report, co-authored by researchers from organisations including The King's Fund, Nuffield Trust, Health Foundation, provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 so far on people who use and provide long-term care in England and of the policy and practice measures adopted to mitigate its impact. It finds that the initial policy responses did not adequately consider the social care sector and that the pandemic has laid bare long-standing problems in the long-term care system in England. International Long Term Care Policy Network.

Europe needs to prepare better for coming out of new strict containment measures

Europe needs to prepare better for coming out of new strict containment measures With the coronavirus (COVID-19) once again spreading rapidly, and the re-introduction of containment measures to flatten the curve of the epidemic, it is crucial for policymakers to plan effective strategies to re-open their economies to avoid further re-confinements. This should include much more effective testing, tracing and isolation policies that people can easily follow, as well as improved social distancing measures, according to a new OECD report. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

See also:

• Health at a Glance: Europe 2020 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• Coronavirus: UK was 20 days behind Europe as NHS was under-resourced The Daily Mail

Thousands more health workers to benefit from visa extensions

Thousands more health workers to benefit from visa extensions More than 6,000 frontline health workers will have their visas extended for a year for free, including doctors, nurses and paramedics. Department of Health and Social Care 

NHS Test and Trace processes more tests and contacts more positive cases

NHS Test and Trace processes more tests and contacts more positive cases Figures published today show that NHS Test and Trace is reaching more positive cases and their contacts than ever, as numbers using the service continue to increase week on week. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Transparency data: NHS Test and Trace (England) and coronavirus testing (UK) statistics: 5 November to 11 November Department of Health and Social Care
• Wider roll out of COVID-19 testing on asymptomatic staff NHS Employers
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England
• Research and analysis: Excess mortality in English regions Public Health England

Coronavirus: Inside test-and-trace - how the 'world beater' went wrong

Coronavirus: Inside test-and-trace - how the 'world beater' went wrong Just half of close contacts given to England's NHS Test and Trace are being reached in some areas, a BBC investigation has found. 

Six months after Boris Johnson promised a "world beating" system, it can be shown the network is failing in areas with some of the worst infection rates. 

The research also found no-one from NHS labs was at a key government meeting with private firms about testing. BBC News 

See also: 

• Tocilizumab: Arthritis drug may treat severe Covid BBC News
• Covid-19 carriers 'most infectious earlier on' BBC News
• Was the scientific advice for lockdown flawed? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Christmas socialising poses 'substantial risks' - scientist BBC News
• Arthritis drug tocilizumab can help critically-ill Covid patients recover, trial finds The Daily Mail
• Mutated strain of Covid found in mink 'has been eradicated', Denmark claims The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 was third biggest killer in England in October, ONS The Daily Mail
• No evidence Remdesivir improves survival for patients hospitalised with Covid, WHO panel finds The Daily Telegraph
• NHS prepares dozens of Covid mass vaccination centres around England The Guardian
• Covid lockdown shows signs of working in England, expert says The Guardian

Covid-19: Free flu jabs offered to all over 50s in 'winter like no other'

Covid-19: Free flu jabs offered to all over 50s in 'winter like no other' People aged over 50 in England are being urged to get a flu jab, as ministers hope for a mass roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine next year.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was "more important than ever" for people to get a flu jab to fight the "twin threats" of coronavirus and flu.

He said the NHS was preparing to roll out a Covid vaccine if one is approved.

It comes as the over-50s have been added to a list of people who are eligible for a flu jab in England. BBC News

See also:

• Free flu vaccinations rolled out to over 50s from December Department of Health and Social Care
• Should I get a flu jab this winter? BBC News

Covid-19 deaths must prompt better healthcare for people with learning disabilities

Covid-19 deaths must prompt better healthcare for people with learning disabilities The government, NHS and health and social care providers must act to tackle health inequalities
People with learning disabilities are much more likely to die from coronavirus. And black and Asian people with learning disabilities are even more likely to die from coronavirus.

This isn’t because the virus targets people with learning disabilities. It is because society fails to do enough to support the health and wellbeing of those at the sharp end of structural and health inequalities. The Guardian

Millions of public sector workers face pay freeze in wake of coronavirus pandemic

Millions of public sector workers face pay freeze in wake of coronavirus pandemic Millions of public sector workers face a pay freeze next year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce the move during a government spending review next week as part of efforts to plug the hole left in the nation’s finances by the Covid-19 crisis. The Independent

See also:

• Millions of public sector workers face pay freeze BBC News
• New UK spending row as Rishi Sunak puts squeeze on public sector salaries The Guardian

'You'll end up in court' warning to those ignoring Covid fines in Northamptonshire

 'You'll end up in court' warning to those ignoring Covid fines in Northamptonshire Police say anyone ignoring Covid-19 fines in Northamptonshire will end up in court if they don't pay.

Officers issued 371 fixed penalty notices between March and September to people going out during lockdown, not wearing face coverings and gathering in large numbers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire teachers told to turn off Test and Trace apps, claims union Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton gym trust's social impact programmes 'at risk' due to second lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid infection rates compared across England as cases continue to rise - where is worst affected? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire Police press on with £10k Traveller funeral fine after legal wrangle stalls plan to punish organisers Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Feather in our cap' as KGH gets top award

'Feather in our cap' as KGH gets top award Kettering General Hospital has been given a top award for the way it collects information about joint replacement surgery.

The Rothwell Road hospital has been awarded the National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider certificate for the scrupulous way it it gathers and submits information to support a national safety system for joint replacements. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Management of the long-term effects of COVID-19

Management of the long-term effects of COVID-19 A survey of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) members in September 2020 showed 67% of those who responded were looking after at least one patient with ongoing symptoms of COVID-19 lasting more than 12 weeks. The RCGP have published their response and top tips for caring for patients.

New antibiotic-resistant infections rise to 178 per day in England

New antibiotic-resistant infections rise to 178 per day in England Antimicrobial resistance remains a serious threat to the health of people in England, with 178 AMR infections diagnosed each day, according to a Public Health England report.

Expanded study tests immune response of care home staff and residents

Expanded study tests immune response of care home staff and residents An expansion of the current Vivaldi study will test thousands more care home staff and residents for their immune response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research and analysis: Evaluating detection of SARS-CoV-2: AntiBodies at Home study Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Public Health England

Covid: Oxford vaccine shows 'encouraging' immune response in older adults

Covid: Oxford vaccine shows 'encouraging' immune response in older adults The Oxford coronavirus vaccine shows a strong immune response in adults in their 60s and 70s, raising hopes that it can protect age groups most at risk from the virus.

Researchers say the Lancet phase two findings, based on 560 healthy adult volunteers, are "encouraging".

They are also testing whether the vaccine stops people developing Covid-19 in larger, phase three trials. BBC News

See also:

• Care home welcomes visitors after pilot covid test scheme BBC News
• Christmas CAN be saved from Covid but New Year lockdown advisable The Daily Mail
• Britons vaccinated against Covid 'may get QR codes on their mobile phones' The Daily Mail
• Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Q&A: what do the results show so far, and what happens next? The Daily Telegraph
• UK health experts discuss relaxing Covid rules for Christmas – video The Guardian
• NHS assembles army of staff for mass coronavirus vaccinations The Guardian
• Poor areas of England face 'permanent' lockdown, says public health chief The Guardian
• 30,000 volunteers sought to deliver Covid vaccine across England The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS must get the Pfizer vaccine where it is needed - and fast Sky News

Quarter of UK home care operators face going bust

Quarter of UK home care operators face going bust More than a quarter of UK home care providers risk going out of business, research for the BBC suggests.

A study by business analysts for Radio 4's You and Yours programme found 715 of the 2,731 home care operators in the UK are in danger of closure.

The sector has combined debts in excess of £100m. BBC News

See also:

• UK care home bosses seek extra £500m for Christmas Covid measures The Guardian

Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice'

Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice' A BBC News investigation has uncovered failures in the diagnosis of serious medical issues during private baby scans.

More than 200 studios across the UK now sell ultrasound scans, with hundreds of thousands being carried out each year.

But the BBC has found evidence of women not being told about serious conditions and abnormalities.

NHS whistleblower speaks out on PPE contracts as PM faces criticism

NHS whistleblower speaks out on PPE contracts as PM faces criticism Our health and social care editor Victoria Macdonald has been speaking to a whistleblower who describes what went on behind the scenes in the rush to acquire enough personal protective equipment (PPE) – when the rest of the world was scrambling to do exactly the same thing. Channel 4 News