Vial shortage leads to KGH and GPs cancelling routine blood tests

Vial shortage leads to KGH and GPs cancelling routine blood tests Kettering General Hospital has cancelled some routine blood tests and has warned it may need to postpone more because of a national shortage of test tubes. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

What good looks like framework and funding digital programmes

What good looks like framework and funding digital programmes The NHSX What good looks like framework outlines digital best practice for trusts and integrated care systems. This briefing summarises the proposed framework and associated funding information, followed by a discussion of the implications for trust leaders. NHS Providers 

Guidance for LPCs and pharmacy PCN Leads on the role of a lead and the support that should be offered

Guidance for LPCs and pharmacy PCN Leads on the role of a lead and the support that should be offered This briefing describes how an appointed pharmacy primary care network (PCN) lead should carry out this role. It outlines the principles leads should follow in the discharge of their role, as well as providing guidance for Local Pharmaceutical Committees (LPCs) and Pharmacy PCN Leads on additional aspects of the role, including support that should be provided, appointment terms, funding for the role and providing clarity on the role’s remit. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee 

NHS to diagnose thousands of people with rare diabetes

NHS to diagnose thousands of people with rare diabetes Genetic testing on the NHS will spot a rare form of diabetes in thousands of people unaware they are living with the disease, alongside a new training scheme for staff.

The test being rolled out across England can also spot whether people have passed the affected gene on to their children, while the health service is training hundreds of staff across the country to be experts in the rare condition.

Known as monogenic diabetes, around 12,000 people in England are thought to have the condition, which if left undetected can mean patients struggle to manage glucose levels. NHS England 

‘Operation Warm Welcome’ underway to support Afghan arrivals in the UK

‘Operation Warm Welcome’ underway to support Afghan arrivals in the UK Arrivals under Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy will be given immediate indefinite leave to remain, alongside funding for school places and healthcare. Department of Health and Social Care et al

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 31 August 2021

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 31 August 2021 With just under 4.4 million new cases reported this week (23-29 August), the number of new cases reported globally remains similar to the previous week after increasing for nearly two months (since mid-June).

In this edition, a special focus update is provided on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta which includes updates on the geographic distribution of these VOCs as well as a description of a newly classified Variant of Interest (VOI), Mu. World Health Organization

See also:

• WHO monitoring new coronavirus variant named Mu The Guardian
• A new Covid variant is being monitored by the World Health Organisation Northamptonshire Telegraph

Covid: What do under-30s need to know about the vaccine?

Covid: What do under-30s need to know about the vaccine? Being double vaccinated still offers the best protection against the Delta variant, first identified in India and now dominant in the UK, according to a new study.

But people who have had both doses can still catch and transmit the disease, so researchers say it is essential that as many people are possible get the jab.

Everyone aged 16 and over in the UK can now receive the Covid vaccine. BBC News

See also:

• Covid UK: Daily hospital admissions breach 1,000 for first time since February as cases jump 4.4% The Daily Mail
• Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine creates TWICE as many antibodies as Pfizer's, study finds The Daily Mail
• Trials for Johnson & Johnson HIV vaccine FAIL as shots were determined to be only 25% effective The Daily Mail
• No 10 to press on with plans for Covid vaccine passports in England The Guardian
• ‘Covid-19 isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon’: Hospital boss issues frank warning to staff The Independent

NHS blood tube shortage: Supplier ramps up imports

NHS blood tube shortage: Supplier ramps up imports Becton Dickinson (BD) - which makes blood test vials for the NHS - is ramping up imports to try to alleviate serious shortages of test tubes.

The firm told the BBC it has received "exceptional use authorisation" from UK authorities to import blood tubes that are already approved for use in other countries, such as the US. BBC News

Huge discrepancy in NHS England waiting times for common procedures

Huge discrepancy in NHS England waiting times for common procedures NHS patients enter a postcode lottery when it comes to common hospital treatments such as eye, hip and knee surgery in England – with some areas facing huge backlogs while others have almost none, new research reveals.

The “stark and huge” regional disparities show how thousands of patients have been left in discomfort and pain for months while waiting for procedures that would be readily available only 100 miles away. The Guardian 

Black surgeons ‘promoted far less than white colleagues in England’

Black surgeons ‘promoted far less than white colleagues in England’ Black surgeons are far less likely to be promoted than their white colleagues, according to analysis of NHS medics’ careers in England.

Black men who were junior surgeons in 2010 were 27% less likely to be promoted to consultant than white men between 2016 and 2020, while black women were 42% less likely. The Guardian

See also: 

• The British Academy of Management's research into diversity and seniority in surgery: our comment Royal College of Surgeons

‘Gamechanging’ heart disease drug approved for use in England

‘Gamechanging’ heart disease drug approved for use in England Patients in England are to start receiving a “gamechanger” drug that doctors say will prevent tens of thousands of lives by cutting the number of people who have a heart attack or stroke.

The treatment, inclisiran, works by boosting the liver’s ability to reduce the body’s level of “bad” cholesterol, even in those who have already tried using statins. The Guardian

See also: 

• NICE approves ground-breaking cholesterol-lowering drug inclisiran NICE
• Life-saving cholesterol jab recommended on NHS BBC News
• 'Life-saving' twice-yearly injections can replace daily statin tablets for thousands The Daily Mail

More than 600 mental health crisis referrals to Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust in just a month

More than 600 mental health crisis referrals to Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust in just a month People in crisis were referred for urgent or emergency mental health support at Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust more than 600 times in just a month, figures show. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Warning as Covid variant found in South Africa is ‘most mutated’ strain so far

Warning as Covid variant found in South Africa is ‘most mutated’ strain so far A Covid variant first identified in South Africa “could be more infectious” than all other mutations identified so far, scientists warn.

The C.1.2 strain was detected by scientists in South Africa in May this year and is thought to have the potential to evade coronavirus vaccines. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid vaccine uptake: The Northampton areas with the greatest number of teenagers vaccinated Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Campaign launched for Northamptonshire public to 'be kind and bear others in mind' as normality returns Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid rule-breakers from Burton Latimer, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough sentenced at court Northamptonshire Telegraph

The good childhood report 2021

The good childhood report 2021 This report shows the latest trends in children's well-being. The research seeks to understand how young people feel about different aspects of their lives. This year school, friendships and appearance continue to cause the greatest dissatisfaction in adolescence. Children's Society 

Responding to the needs of a diverse workforce and community during Covid-19

Responding to the needs of a diverse workforce and community during Covid-19 Solent NHS Trust is a community and mental health trust that covers Portsmouth, Southampton and parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. At the outbreak of Covid-19, a comprehensive organisational diversity and inclusion response was developed, focussing on five workstreams. This case study describes in detail the five workstreams, accomplishments and lessons learnt for the future. NHS Employers 

NHS COVID ‘grab-a-jab’ initiative boosts ethnic minority vaccinations

NHS COVID ‘grab-a-jab’ initiative boosts ethnic minority vaccinations The NHS COIVD vaccination programme has protected more than 700,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds since rolling out the grab-a-jab campaign.

An analysis of one grab-a-jab weekend in July found that 2 in 5 of the 80,000 walk-in doses administered were to people from ethnic minority groups, significantly more than the proportion in the wider community.

People have been able to turn up and ‘grab a jab’ at festivals, mosques, town halls, football grounds and other convenient sites since the campaign began earlier this summer. NHS England

See also: 

• Health Secretary article in The Times Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Delta twice as likely to need hospital care

Covid: Delta twice as likely to need hospital care People are twice as likely to need hospital care if they are sick with the Delta Covid variant, rather than the Alpha variant that was once prevalent in the UK, data from England suggests.

Experts say the big study, published in The Lancet, reinforces why it is important that people get fully jabbed. BBC News

See also:

• Hospital admission and emergency care attendance risk for SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) compared with alpha (B.1.1.7) variants of concern: a cohort study (open access) The Lancet
• Covid: Teen in hospital with virus urges others to get vaccinated BBC News
• New Zealand woman dies after receiving Pfizer vaccine BBC News
• Covid in Scotland: Record number of cases as NHS faces 'perfect storm' BBC News
• Covid origin: US spy agencies publish 'inconclusive' report BBC News
• England will suffer a WORSE Covid outbreak than Scotland following children returning to schools The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Cases rise 2% in a week to 38,046 as hospitalisations creep up by 10% The Daily Mail
• England's R rate is now definitely ABOVE one for first time in a month and outbreak grew by 9% The Daily Mail
• Unvaccinated care home staff moving to NHS, creating tricky dilemma for Government The Daily Telegraph
• Who is now receiving critical care for Covid? The Guardian
• Up to 600,000 Britons feared to have missed second AstraZeneca dose The Independent
• Why are US anti-vaxxers touting a horse dewormer as a cure for Covid? The Independent

Rugby study finds brain affected in one season

Rugby study finds brain affected in one season After just one season of rugby players at a professional team saw a decline in both blood flow to the brain and cognitive function, a new study claims

The University of South Wales research followed a professional rugby team over the course of a season, testing players pre-season, mid-season and post season.

It will be published in Wednesday's September edition of the Journal of Experimental Physiology. BBC News 

Blood test shortage: NHS chiefs working 'flat out' to resolve shortage of blood sample tubes

Blood test shortage: NHS chiefs working 'flat out' to resolve shortage of blood sample tubes Health chiefs say they are working ‘flat out’ to resolve the nationwide shortage of blood collection tubes that has halted all but the most clinically urgent blood tests.

The British Medical Association warned at the weekend that the shortage of blood tubes across hospitals and GP surgeries is now severe and if the NHS does not reduce the amount being used in the coming days, even the most clinically important blood tests may be at risk. iNews

See also: 

• NHS blood test tube shortage set to worsen BBC News
• NHS blood test tube shortage: Doctors 'facing difficult choices' BBC News
• GPs instructed to halt all non-urgent blood tests until mid-September GPonline
• GPs ordered to halt all non-urgent blood tests across England until September The Independent

Strain on mental health care leaves 8m people without help, say NHS leaders

Strain on mental health care leaves 8m people without help, say NHS leaders An estimated 8 million people in England with mental health problems cannot get specialist help because they are not considered sick enough to qualify, NHS leaders have revealed as the toll of the pandemic is laid bare.

The figure, drawn up by mental health trusts and NHS Providers, underlines the gap between the growing need for care for anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, and the ability of the NHS to treat them. The Guardian