NHS staff will now be able to request flexible working arrangements from the first day in post.
Previously, staff had to be in service for at least 6 months before they could put in a request. It has been found a lack of work-life balance was a significant cause of why staff left the healthcare service.
The new rule will come into effect on 13 September 2021 and staff will be allowed to make an unlimited number of flexible working applications and submit them without justification or provide specific reasons.
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Source: Royal College of Nursing, 29 June 2021
New FFP3 masks may reduce likelihood of infection rates, a new study finds. After healthcare workers used the masks when on Covid-19 wards, the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections was found to be lowered by a significant amount.
Since the study, Public Health England have updated its guidance which now requires NHS organisations to provide FFP3 respirators where appropriate.
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Source: BMJ, 29 June 2021
Research by the BBC finds thousands of people with disabilities had been forgotten about during the pandemic, revealing most participants experienced worsening of their disability and many said their vital appointments had been cancelled.
The research found some reported attempting suicide due to the sudden changes, being isolated or not being able to access their care or support networks.
Scope, one of the UK's biggest disabilities charities have said the research conducted by the BBC confirms the government failed to support people with disabilities during the pandemic.
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Source: BBC, 30 June 2021
New research has found the death rate in Manchester was 25% higher than the rest of England during the pandemic.
The report describes how Manchester is experiencing a number of avoidable health inequalities that needs to be addressed.
The Mayor of Manchester has said people on lower incomes are less able to control their exposure to the virus and that more needs to be done to help communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
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Source: BBC News, 29 June 20201
A letter signed by the Royal College of Nursing, UNISON and Royal College of Midwives have called for a higher pay rise for NHS staff.
In their letter, they explain that currently, staff are experiencing high levels of exhaustion, and that a pay rise would help convince staff members to stay in their roles and raise morale after facing the challenges of the pandemic.
According to the article, the Royal College of Nursing is calling for a 12.5% pay increase for NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts.
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Source: Royal College of Nursing, 29 June 2021
A study by React have estimated around 2 million people may be suffering from long Covid but scientists say the cases are going under reported.
Currently, there is no universal definition of long Covid and the symptoms are varying and broad.
To better understand the condition, the government has set up around 80 clinics and have invested £50m for research.
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Source: BBC News, 30 June 2021
In an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, the government introduced a policy where pupils would be sent home to self-isolate if they came into contact with an infected person in school.
However, the number of cases being prevented by this policy is not being monitored. It has been estimated at least 279,000 children are at home with many being asked to self isolate for 10 days.
Without a full set of data, it cannot be known how this current policy is affecting the rate of infections. A government spokesperson has said the health secretary and education secretary are working on getting education back to normal as soon as they can.
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Source: BBC News, 01 July 2021
Analysis from leading psychiatrists found from 2020-2021 out of 47,000 women, only 3,1261 were able to get help from perinatal services.
Whilst it was deemed the pandemic was not the main reason women were being denied access, it was established that due to lack of investment and funding, services were unable to provide support when needed.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling for funding in the next spending review.
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Source: The Guardian, 1 July 2021
An investigation by The Independent and Channel 4 has found dozens of babies have died on the maternity wards at Nottingham hospitals as a result of poor care.
The special report tells how families have not had their concerns properly investigated nor has the hospital attempted to learn from previous mistakes.
Nottingham NHS is now facing dozens of clinical negligence claims by grieving families, with the trust estimated to have already paid out £91m in damages and legal costs.
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Source: The Independent, 30 June 2021
A new leaked report has found almost half of hospital isolation rooms did not meet ventilation guidelines after an audit was commissioned after healthcare staff and patients were found to be infected with COVID-19.
The audit revealed nearly 40 per cent of hospital wards failed air filtration guidelines and though 99 percent of wards had enough outside air, problems begin to occur when it gets into the hospitals.
The ABC has contacted the Victorian Health Department for comment.
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Source: The ABC News, 1 July 2021
England's senior doctors may take industrial action if the offer of 1% pay rise is not improved.
Paid and unpaid overtime may be stopped if the figure is not increased to at least 4% says the British Medical Association. The BMA have also said industrial action may impact patient clinics and attempts to shorten waiting lists if it goes ahead.
The Department of Health has said the government was committed to a wage rise for NHS staff, including consultants.
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Source: BBC, 2 July 2021
Scientists have called for the list of Covid-19 symptoms to be expanded. The call comes after scientists warned cases may be missed if the symptoms are not included on the official list.
However, others are warning that including too many may be confusing and result in unnecessary tests being carried out.
Currently, the government maintains that the list is under constant review.
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Source: BBC News, 01 July 2021
Women forced to give birth alone have said 'the system has completely failed' them.
A new report by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service found the Covid rules requiring pregnant women to attend scans and give birth alone has caused widespread distress and anxiety.
The research also revealed many women having to attend their appointments online felt it did not meet their requirements at all.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists, who released the findings, have said due to a lack of support and resources, the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is at risk.
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Source: The Independent, 01 July 2021
A hospital with a roof containing beams described as a ‘significant safety issue’ could be rebuilt or replaced rather than repaired, at a likely cost of several hundred million pounds.
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Source: HSJ, 5 July 2021
2.45 million has been pledged by the government to improve childbirth care which is due to happen this year.
It has been announced that the funding is intended to help NHS maternity staff to improve the safety of the women and babies they care for.
Maternity safety minister Nadine Dorries said "I am determined to make sure as many mums as possible can go home with healthy and happy babies in their arms".
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Source: Department of Health and Social Care, 4 July 2021
A leaked message to NHS staff on Thursday revealed Nottingham University Hospitals Trust NHS chief Tracy Taylor, admitted that the maternity ward was not a safe environment for women and babies.
In the message, it was revealed that 37 new members of staff have been hired in an attempt to help improve services.
She has said: “Improving our maternity services is one of our top priorities and we know how tirelessly colleagues in maternity are working to make those improvements".
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Source: The Independent, 2 July 2021
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