Thursday, 2 December 2021

KGH says sorry after another medication mix-up

KGH says sorry after another medication mix-up Kettering General Hospital bosses have apologised after another medication blunder - the FIFTH never event to take place there this year.

An investigation has been launched after the serious mix-up - classed as the kind of mistake which should never happen - saw a patient given medication through the wrong route in October. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Doing a lot more with only slightly more: the NHS’s Covid-19 recovery and public expectations

Doing a lot more with only slightly more: the NHS’s Covid-19 recovery and public expectations Covid-19 demanded that the government commit massive increases to the health budget: over the past two years it has spent £80 billion on tackling the pandemic, 40 per cent above previous health spending plans. While we all hope that health spending will not need to return to these levels in the near future, the legacy costs of responding to the acute phase of the pandemic are great. The King's Fund

Misconduct in public office: why did so many thousands die unnecessarily?

Misconduct in public office: why did so many thousands die unnecessarily? A panel of four, chaired by Michael Mansfield QC, heard evidence from over 40 witnesses including bereaved families, frontline NHS and key workers, national and international experts, trade union and council leaders, and representatives from disabled people’s and pensioners’ organisations. This report summarises the concerns raised, including NHS preparedness, government response, the impact on various population groups, the impact on frontline staff, inequalities and discrimination and more. People's Covid Inquiry

    The state of health visiting 2021: we need more health visitors

    The state of health visiting 2021: we need more health visitors This report aims to capture the experiences of frontline health visiting practitioners working with families across the United Kingdom in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It finds that the needs of babies, young children and families are increasing, there are not enough health visitors to meet these rising levels of need, and families are experiencing an ongoing postcode lottery of support. Institute of Health Visiting

      Digital transformation in community health services

      Digital transformation in community health services This report highlights how community health services have been delivering better care for patients and service users through remote monitoring, virtual consultations and self-management tools. It is informed by case studies and a survey of community service leaders. It finds that a number of systemic issues, including insufficient capital and revenue funding for the technological transformation needed, have dogged digital roll-out in community services. Community Network

        Ten year vision to improve adult social care

        Ten year vision to improve adult social care People who need care, the social care workforce and unpaid carers will benefit from the ten-year vision for adult social care.

        The white paper is part of the government’s wider social care plans, backed by £5.4 billion, which for the first time provides a limit to the cost of care for everyone in the adult social care system, and significantly increases state support. Department of Health and Social Care

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        Government agrees new deals to future proof vaccine rollout in light of new variant

        Government agrees new deals to future proof vaccine rollout in light of new variant The government has signed new contracts to secure the supply of our vaccine stock to future proof the country’s vaccine programme.

        The new contracts with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were accelerated in light of the new variant, as part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the government is doing everything it can while scientists across the world learn more about Omicron. Department of Health and Social Care

        Covid: Trigger of rare blood clots with AstraZeneca jab found by scientists

        Covid: Trigger of rare blood clots with AstraZeneca jab found by scientists Scientists believe they have found "the trigger" that leads to extremely rare blood clots after the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

        The team - in Cardiff and the US - have shown in exquisite detail how a protein in the blood is attracted to a key component of the vaccine.

        They think this kicks off a chain reaction, involving the immune system, that can culminate in dangerous clots. BBC News

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        Safety watchdog launches national investigation into ambulance delays

        Safety watchdog launches national investigation into ambulance delays The national patient safety watchdog has launched an investigation into the “significant patient harm” caused by Ambulances being forced to wait with patients outside of A&E, The Independent has learned. 

        PMQs: Boris Johnson denies hospitals plan labelled unachievable

        PMQs: Boris Johnson denies hospitals plan labelled unachievable Prime minister contradicts health department’s response to report of ‘red’ rating for new hospitals scheme

        Boris Johnson has denied a report that his flagship pledge to build 40 new hospitals has been labelled as unachievable by an official watchdog, even though the health department has confirmed this is the case.

        Challenged about the programme during prime minister’s questions, Johnson conceded that not all the projects were completely new hospitals. The Guardian

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        Wednesday, 1 December 2021

        Christmas 'tree of light' helps Northamptonshire Health Charity raise over £1000 for local hospitals

        Christmas 'tree of light' helps Northamptonshire Health Charity raise over £1000 for local hospitals People in Northampton will be able to honour their loved ones by brightening 'Christmas tree of light', as part of charity fundraiser. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

        NHS backlogs and waiting times in England

        NHS backlogs and waiting times in England Recovering elective and cancer care performance to the standards required will be a huge and lengthy challenge for the NHS, and there is a real risk that the waiting list for patients seeking elective care will be longer in 2025 than it is today, according to analysis from the National Audit Office.

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        Invisible crisis in home care unfolding as social care sector loses up to 50,000 staff in lead up to winter months

        Invisible crisis in home care unfolding as social care sector loses up to 50,000 staff in lead up to winter months Our analysis reveals that the social care sector in England may have lost up to 50,000 workers across all providers of care, heaping pressure onto burnt out existing staff and restricting access to care in the leadup to a very challenging winter. Nuffield Trust

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        Over £23 million investment to end new HIV infections by 2030

        Over £23 million investment to end new HIV infections by 2030 The government has bolstered its commitment to achieve zero new HIV infections, AIDS and HIV related deaths in England by 2030 via a new action plan backed by £23 million of funding.

        Current HIV prevention methods are working – with a 35% reduction in new HIV diagnoses in England between 2014 and 2019. This represents one of the biggest decreases worldwide. Department of Health and Social Care

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        All adults to be offered COVID-19 boosters by end of January

        All adults to be offered COVID-19 boosters by end of January All eligible adults in England aged 18 and over will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of January.

        Following advice from the independent experts at the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), everyone who is currently eligible - including those aged 40 and over, health and social care workers and those at increased risk from the virus due to health conditions - will be able to book their jab from three months after their second dose, meaning an additional 7 million people over 40 are now eligible. Department of Health and Social Care

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        Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists

        Covid: Omicron may require 'very stringent response', say Sage scientists The impact of the Omicron variant on the UK is "highly uncertain" but may require a "very stringent response", government advisers have said.

        The BBC has seen leaked minutes of a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies held on Monday.

        They said officials should prepare now for a "potentially significant" wave of infections while data on the variant is being collected and analysed. BBC News

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        New 'NHS Reserves' scheme calls on retired nurses to return to work

        New 'NHS Reserves' scheme calls on retired nurses to return to work The government is calling on retired NHS nurses and colleagues to return to work, as part of a health service “reserves” scheme being launched across the country. Nursing Times 

        New social care plans risk backlash over failure to tackle England’s winter crisis

        New social care plans risk backlash over failure to tackle England’s winter crisis Exclusive: long-awaited white paper provides no new funding to help with care providers’ immediate problems

        Ministers are risking a fresh backlash over social care by unveiling long awaited proposals that will offer no new funding to help crisis-hit care providers through winter, the Guardian understands. 

        Health chiefs recall batches of blood pressure pills because they contain cancer-causing chemical

        Health chiefs recall batches of blood pressure pills because they contain cancer-causing chemical Dozens of batches of a blood pressure pills have been recalled due to being contaminated with 'unacceptable' levels of a potentially cancer causing chemical.

        Pharmacies and health professionals were ordered to immediately stop supplying 44 batches of the drug irbesartan and quarantine all remaining stock after they were found to contain a substance called ABZT. The Daily Mail

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        Tuesday, 30 November 2021

        Everything you need to know about the Northamptonshire Covid situation

        Everything you need to know about the Northamptonshire Covid situation Christmas is on the way and Northamptonshire locals will be hoping for a much more "normal" festive season than the one last year.

        Despite Health Secretary Sajid Javid encouraging people to maintain their plans for December, the arrival of the Omicron variant has brought uncertainty. Northants Live

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