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Child winter respiratory illness on rise in summer

Owing to social distancing and a lack of exposure, childhood respiratory illness, RSV is on the rise, according to reports and parents are being warned to look out for signs and symptoms. 

"This winter, we expect levels of common seasonal illnesses such as cold and flu to increase, as people mix more and given that fewer people will have built up natural immunity during the pandemic. Children under two are at a particular risk of severe infections from common seasonal illnesses," Public Health England, medical director Dr Yvonne Doyle has said. 

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Source: BBC News, 23 July 2021

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Nottingham maternity scandal: families want independent inquiry

More than 20 families have said they want a completely independent inquiry into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust.

One mother, Hayley Coates has said her baby was delivered with forceps, a fractured skull and was starved of oxygen, suffering major brain injuries after a very difficult labour. An inquest this year found serious failings in the service Hayley received after her baby Kaylan, died of an infection a week later. 

"I was pushing and pushing and nothing was happening. I kept saying the baby isn't coming and I need to go for a Caesarean, but staff kept saying I was going to have the baby naturally," Hayley has said. 

NUH chief executive Tracy Taylor has said, "We apologise from the bottom of our hearts to the families who have not received the high level of care they need and deserve, we recognise the effects have been devastating".

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Source: BBC News, 22 July 2021

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Patients waiting 10 minutes for 999 calls to be answered

Some people calling 999 are having to wait up to 10 minutes before their call is answered. Staff have warned patients may be coming to harm, and may be even dying as a result of the delays and with paramedics also reporting it's taking as long as 24 hours for some ambulances to reach patients. 

One paramedic has told The Independent, “We are stacking over 500 jobs, with patients waiting hours for an ambulance response. That includes elderly vulnerable people who have fallen but only merit a category three, so their calls are routinely pushed further and further down the queue. In the last few days, I've been to patients waiting 11 or 13 hours. And just to be clear: this is not the hospitals’ fault. The system is profoundly broken.”

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Source: The Independent, 22 July 2021

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Care watchdog has warned that “exceptional” pressures on the NHS is affecting the care of patients across England

The care watchdog has warned patient care may be being affected by the current pressures on the NHS with healthcare workers suffering significant levels of stress.

Concerns have been raised in recent weeks after a surge in Covid-19 infections has resulted in record numbers of people calling for ambulances and attending emergency departments, overwhelming the service. 

Professor Ted Baker, the Care Quality Commission’s chief inspector of hospitals has said “It's imperative that not only do we deal with the immediate pressures on the system, we also need to deal with the underlying problems with the models of care. If we don't do that, patients will not be able to receive the care we want them to, and the pressure on staff to provide care under these difficult circumstances will continue.”

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Source: The Independent, 22 July 2021

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Maternity services may struggle if Covid-19 rates surge

Health professionals have warned that if Covid-19 rates continue to rise, Maternity services may struggle to keep running.

The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have said home births have been cancelled amid ambulance shortages. 

Leah Deutsch, a senior registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Royal Free Hospital in north London, has told The Independent that some women were unable to have their home births during the first and second wave of the pandemic. 

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Source: The Independent, 21 July 2021

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Worst affected care homes revealed by watchdog

The number of people who have died in each care home has been published for the first time. According to reports, more than 39,000 care home residents died with the virus between 10 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

The data, released by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) shows 21 homes had more than 30 Covid-19 related deaths, with the highest number of deaths in a single care home being 44.

Kate Terroni, CQC chief inspector for adult social care has said "Every number represents a life lost". 

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Source: BBC News, 21 July 2021

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Alabama doctor on treating unvaccinated, dying COVID patients

In this article, an Alabama doctor describes how her unvaccinated patients are dying from Covid-19. 

Dr Brytney Cobia, a hospitalist at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham said in a Facebook post on Sunday, “I’m admitting young healthy people to the hospital with very serious COVID infections. One of the last things they do before they’re intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that I’m sorry, but it’s too late.”

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Source: Advance Local, 21 July 2021

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London Ambulance Service declares incident as 999 calls surge

The London Ambulance service declared a 'business continuity incident' on Monday after a surge in 999 calls. 

Paramedics were told the ambulance service was under extreme demand after the calls threatened to overwhelm the service. The announcement was made after more than 400 calls were made in a single hour during Monday afternoon. 

“Yesterday we saw high levels of demand for our services and used tested processes to care for our patients – this allowed some people with the least urgent care needs to be treated through alternative routes" said a London Ambulance Service spokesperson. 

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Source: The Independent, 20 July 2021

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RCN demands health secretary is made fully accountable for nursing workforce in England

The Royal College of Nursing has demanded the health secretary is made fully accountable for the planning and supply of nursing staff in England. 

As the Health and Care Bill passes through parliament, the RCN insists key changes need to be made to Bill to enable the workforce crisis to be appropriately addressed, including ensuring that the commissioning of services is done in partnership with local communities and ensuring that the voices of experts such as royal colleges are part of the regulation of the profession.

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Source: RCN, 17 July 2021

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Mask rules to return for Jersey

Mandatory mask wearing rules are set to return to Jersey from Wednesday 21 July amid concerns for rising case numbers. 

The rules stipulate that anyone over the age of 12, must wear a mask when inside indoor public places such as transport, shops and health care settings.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf has said: "While we have seen a rise in cases over the past two weeks, it is important to remember the effect our vaccination programme has had on the island".

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Source: BBC News, 20 July 2021

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Crucial for pinged people to self-isolate says No 10

In the past week, many people have been 'pinged' by the NHS app, informing them they have been in close contact with someone who has had the Covid-19 virus and that they should self-isolate. However, despite this advice there is no legal obligation. 

Downing street, on the other hand, have urged those who have been 'pinged' to self-isolate when sent the alert via the app. 

A spokeswoman for No 10 has said "Given the risk of having and spreading the virus when people have been in contact with someone with Covid, it is crucial people isolate when they are told to do so, either by NHS Test and Trace or by the NHS Covid app".

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Source. BBC News, 20 July 2021

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I work in an NHS Covid ward – and I feel so angry

An NHS consultant has told The Guardian "I work in an NHS Covid ward – and I feel so angry".

Providing a first hand account of their experiences working on an NHS Covid ward, the consultant, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed their dismay at the rise in cases, the spread of misinformation and the exhaustion felt among staff members dealing with work place stress and mental illness. 

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Source: The Guardian, 19 July 2021

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American Academy of Pediatrics calls for prioritizing in-person learning

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for in-person learning to be prioritised and for schools to prepare to address the mental health needs of their students. 

The AAP has also urged all who are eligible to get vaccinated, to do so, and recommends a layered approach in making schools safe for all such as wearing masks even if vaccinated. 

Sonja O’Leary, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Council on School Health has said “We need to prioritize getting children back into schools alongside their friends and their teachers -- and we all play a role in making sure it happens safely”. 

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Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, 19 July 2021

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VA now 'reimagining' approach to Cerner EHR modernization

Multiple issues have been found after a review into Veteran Affairs (VA) electronic system revealed outstanding issues. 

VA Secretary Denis McDonough has said "The mission of EHRM has always been to create a platform that seamlessly delivers the best access and outcomes for our vets and the best experience for our providers". 

The review found problems in several areas including: patient safety, productivity, governance and management, cost and schedule performance, patient portal experience, testing, data and change management and training. 

McDonough has said steps are being taken to address each of these issues and that VA is "reimagining our approach to Electronic Health Record Modernization."

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Source: Healthcare IT News, 19 July 2021

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Disease experts warn: ‘The world needs a reality check’

WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove wrote in her notebook before a keynote address "the world needs a reality check" after becoming increasingly concerned about the rise in coronavirus infections. 

Reports have found Covd-19 has been rising rapidly in places where there has been a low vaccine uptake and it has been confirmed the delta variant is the most transmissible than earlier strains. However, despite this, there has been a lack of social distancing and mask wearing from the public. 

“We’re getting further away from the end than we should be. We’re in a bad place right now globally,” Van Kerkhove has said.

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Source: The Washington Post, 17 July 2021

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UCLH awarded £6.8 million to conduct long Covid study

UCLH has been awarded £6.8m to conduct what has been regarded as the largest Long Covid clinical study and will focus on understanding the condition, how to diagnose it, manage it and improve the recovery process. 

The research will be a collaborative effort and will include 30 researchers, health professionals, patients and industry partners from more than 30 organisations and the project will be known as TIMULATE-ICP (Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-Covid to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways).

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Source: National Health Executive, 19 July 2021

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Some double-jabbed NHS staff to avoid isolation

Some frontline NHS staff who have been double vaccinated may be allowed to continue working even if they are exposed to someone who has Covid-19.

This decision comes after concerns were raised regarding staff shortages and where absences could result in "significant harm".

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said: "As we learn to live with this virus, it's important that we ensure frontline staff can keep providing the best possible care and support to people up and down the country. These new rules will fortify our collective defences against this awful virus, by allowing fully vaccinated frontline NHS and social care staff to continue to work when needed."

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Source: BBC News, 19 July 2021

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15 new research programs set to study 'long term effects of Covid-19'

It has been announced that the UK is set to launch 15 new research programs to study 'Long Covid', allocating nearly 20 million pounds to the projects. 

The research programs are aiming to understand the condition better as well as identify it and evaluate different treatments. 

The Department for Health and Social Care have said, "Those people who have long COVID will benefit from the latest  research revealed, which will help to understand the condition better, improve diagnosis and find new treatments."

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Source: The Day Chronicle, 18 July 2021

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Action yet to be taken on stillbirth independent investigation

Now, almost two years after a consultation on inquests into stillbirths was delivered, the government has yet to respond. 

It has recently been reported by MPs that 1,000 babies die preventable deaths each year due to understaffing and a culture of blame among the maternity ward workforce. 

However, despite pressure from campaigners and a promise by the government that a response would come in September 2019, it is yet to be published. 

The Department for Health and Social Care has told Byline Times, “work on analysing the responses to the consultation on coronial investigations of stillbirths has been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

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Source: Byline Times, 14 July 2021

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‘Ventilator challenge’ to equip NHS for Covid lost £143m of public money

£140m that was spent on developing ventilators has been written off by ministers. According to the Observer, the ventilators were never put to use in the NHS in the months after the pandemic began. 

The 'ventilator challenge' was launched to help provide more machines where needed, however problems began early last year when companies complained their expertise was not being used, while others who had no relevant experience of building ventilators, were asked to do so. 

A government spokesperson has said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have done whatever it takes to protect the NHS and save lives. This included launching the ventilator challenge, which saw more than 15,000 new machines delivered to the NHS, meaning every patient who needs a ventilator has been able to access one". 

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Source: The Guardian, 18 July 2021

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Lifting lockdown could lead to more deaths from Covid

While most of the UK is double vaccinated, there is still a steady rise in the number of Covid cases, raising concerns about the safety of the unlocking of the UK. 

On Monday 19th July, England will lift Covid restrictions including mandatory mask wearing as well as limits on indoor mixing. However, if someone is notified by the NHS app, they will still need to self-isolate, a rule that will no longer apply from 16th August if the person is double vaccinated. 

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Source: CNN 18 July 2021

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Birmingham Queen Elizabeth hospital cancels all planned operations for two days

Owing to a lack of beds and space, one the of the largest hospitals in the country has had to cancel all it's planned operations for two days. 

The hospital, which has more than 1,100 beds has had to cancel cancer operations and liver transplants due to an influx in coronavirus patients increasing demand for bed space. 

Deputy medical director at the University Hospitals Birmingham, Ian Sharp has said “The pressure at the front door, whether its people who should be able to access care elsewhere, or people with Covid, or people with other acute issues, flooding our front door makes it very difficult to function effectively". 

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Source: The Independent, 16 July 2017

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1.6m in England told to self-isolate in a week

1.6 million people in England have been told to self-isolate in a week and the government say it is unlikely the Covid app will adjusted to make it less sensitive. 

Robert Jenrick, communities secretary told the BBC, “It is important we have the app, that we take it seriously and that when we do get those messages, we act accordingly”. 

According to reports, UK coronavirus cases climbed to 48,553 on Thursday, the highest since January. Concerns have now been raised about the climbing number of cases with fears there may be chaos to come. 

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Source: The Guardian, 16 July 2021

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Greater Manchester hospitals ‘forced to provide extra critical care beds’

Hospital waiting lists across the country could hit 13 million in the months to come.

Reports have found Manchester Hospitals are having to provide extra beds for critical care patients as the number of people coming in has surged.

Hospitals are struggling to cope due to increase in patients attending hospitals in the city a reports the Manchester Evening News.

The “number of people attending emergency departments across Greater Manchester has seen a significant increase in recent weeks” and that assistance from hospitals in other parts of the country was “part of our usual processes”, a spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership has said.

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Source: The Independent, 15 July 2021

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