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Content ArticleRemote digital postoperative wound monitoring provides an opportunity to strengthen postoperative community care and minimise the burden of surgical-site infection (SSI). This study aimed to pilot a remote digital postoperative wound monitoring service and evaluate the readiness for implementation in routine clinical practice. It concluded that remote digital postoperative wound monitoring successfully demonstrated readiness for implementation with regards to the technology, usability, and healthcare process improvement.
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Content ArticleThis case study published by The Beryl Institute looks at an initiative to collect real-time feedback on patient experiences at the Stanford Health Care emergency department in California. Previously, the department had sent a survey to patients well after their visit, but the team realised that capturing this information sooner was critical. Matthew Lim, Patient Experience Manager at Stanford Health Care describes the practical and replicable steps the organisation took in implementing a QR code-based feedback system. He describes the results, lessons learned and potential future developments.
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Content ArticleThis article looks at the experience of Tammy Dobbs, who has cerebral palsy and requires extensive support from home carers to carry out daily tasks. In 2016, Tammy's care needs were reassessed by the state of Arkansas where she lives, and the hours of support she was eligible to receive were cut in half. The change in eligibility was due to a new state-approved algorithm that had calculated her support needs in a new way, in spite of the fact that there was no change to her level of need. The situation caused Tammy much distress and resulted in drastic life changes. The article highlights the issues associated with the use of algorithms to determine need and allocate resources in health and social care. It also raises questions about what transparency means in an automated age and highlights concerns about people’s ability to contest decisions made by machines.
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Content ArticleThis white paper from CEMBooks aims to unpick some of the deeper issues surrounding bed block and emergency department crowding from the perspective of a frontline medic with two decades of emergency and flow management experience. It aims to provide a greater understanding of the factors influencing the current situation and the measures used to define it followed by some practical implementable solutions.
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Content ArticleAlarms are signals intended to capture and direct human attention to a potential issue that may require monitoring, assessment or intervention. They play a critical safety role in high-risk industries such as healthcare, which relies heavily on auditory and visual alarms. While there are some guidelines to inform alarm design and use, alarm fatigue and other alarm issues are challenges in the healthcare setting. The automotive, aviation, and nuclear industries have used the science of human factors to develop alarm design and use guidelines. This study in the journal Patient Safety aimed to assess whether these guidelines may provide insights for advancing patient safety in healthcare.
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News Article
Electronic decision support ‘to be the norm for all clinicians’ under NHSE plan
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Electronic systems and clinical decision support software must become “the norm” for all NHS clinicians, under plans being drawn up by NHS England’s new transformation directorate, HSJ has revealed. The massive increase in clinicians’ use of technology forms a major part of the draft plans, seen by HSJ, with the new directorate set to launch ambitious targets for the health service. Other targets include every integrated care system creating virtual wards which are the equivalent size of a district general hospital — around 500 beds each — and installing electronic patient records at every NHS trust. The proposals are led by former US healthcare chief Tim Ferris, NHSE’s new transformation director, who was appointed last year. According to the plans, NHSE’s ambition is to increase the “safe and effective use” of computer assisted processes and clinical decision support so it becomes the “expected norm for all clinicians”. NHS leaders have welcomed the use of virtual wards to improve home care and reduce hospital occupancy, but clinicians have warned of safety issues within virtual wards, with some prominent doctors calling for a careful implementation of the policy. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 2 February 2022 -
News Article
Treatment disrupted as trust suffers major data loss
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A major IT incident at an acute trust is disrupting treatment for eye patients after a significant data loss, it has emerged. Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust chief executive Richard Beeken revealed to his trust’s board that a data loss incident in December had “impacted on staff and patient care” after disrupting 20 systems across the organisation. Recovery of the full data set for patients receiving treatment at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre is still under way, and some have had operations postponed. Despite the incident, ophthalmologists are continuing to see the majority of patients, Mr Beeken said, telling HSJ: “[Numbers affected] are being kept to a minimum through the extraordinary efforts of the clinical team who are putting in extra hours to reassess each patient’s needs.” Scanning continues in the majority of cases and the trust is pressing on with recovery work for all historic images and patient contact details, though leaders believe the chances of 100% data recovery are “still slim”. No patient data was extracted during the incident and the information commissioner was made aware. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 10 January 2022 -
News Article
NHS Trust chiefs warn funding needed for post-COVID digital uptake
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A major survey of NHS IT chiefs has revealed that despite more positive attitudes and uptake towards technology as a result of COVID-19, the long-term challenges of digital transformation within hospital trusts remain unchanged and only 14% of respondents believe they have sufficient funding to cover business priorities. The Digital Health Intelligence NHS IT Leadership Survey, carried out annually by Digital Health Intelligence, offers a 'state of the nation' insight into the priorities, concerns and challenges faced by NHS chief clinical information officers (CCIO’s), Chief Information Officer’s (CIOs) and other relevant digital health leaders. It revealed that despite record levels of positivity for digital transformation - 83% of respondents said the pandemic had resulted in a more positive attitude to digital among board members, up on 63% the previous year - just 24% are expecting a significant rise in funding and 14% think budgets will decrease. Read full story Source: Digital Health, 15 December 2020 -
News Article
Need for tech to reduce medication error and improve patient safety
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Omnicell UK & Ireland, a leading provider of automated healthcare and medication adherence solutions, hosted a health summit on the eve of World Patient Safety Day, to discuss the impact of medication errors on patients and the NHS. The session focussed on the role technology can play in preventing such issues. The summit, this year held via webinar, comes off the backdrop of the Department of Health and Social Care disclosing that in England 237 million mistakes occur every year at some point in the medication process. These errors cause serious issues for patient safety, but also place a significant cost burden on an already stretched NHS. The 2019 Patient Safety Strategy published by NHS England and NHS Improvement also found the NHS failed to save 11,000 lives a year due to safety concerns with the cost of extra treatment needed following incidents being over £1bn. A number of high-profile panel members answered a series of questions from the audience on solutions and best practice to improve patient safety with the aim of debating and sharing ideas on how to meet challenges and the impact of COVID-19. One of the panelists, Patient Safety Learning's Chief Digital Office Clive Flashman, agreed with the other panel members that the NHS had become more collaborative and familiar with technology since Covid: “We’ve seen a definite increase in telehealth and telemeds. Covid has forced cultural blockers that were there before to be removed out of necessity. There has been a growth in robotic pharmacy automation to free up staff time from high volume administration tasks to do more complex work that adds value for patients.” But with the second-wave of COVID-19 still a very real threat he advised: “We don’t want to wait until the next wave to learn a lesson – we need to learn lessons now. Quality Improvement Leads should be focussed on what went right and what went wrong over that period between March and May. They need to be looking at what we can learn from that now and what we can do differently next time. If we don’t do that, we won’t succeed in the second wave where we might fail.” Ed Platt, Automation Director, Omnicell UK & Ireland, added: “Challenges within the NHS throughout Covid has forced them to embrace technology and drive innovation." "It’s important that when things go back to normal, we don’t go back to the same status quo. We need to invest in the right infrastructure in hospitals so unnecessary demands and stress are not put on pharmacy, supply managers and nurses so they are free to focus on patient care not administration tasks." Read full story Source: NHE, 17 September 2020 You can watch the webinar on demand here -
News Article
Seven NHS hospital trusts to receive share of £8.7m for e-prescribing
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A further £8.7million is to be dished out to seven NHS hospital trusts to introduce digital records and e-prescribing. The money is part of a £78million investment which was announced in February 2018 and aims to accelerate the roll out of electronic prescribing systems across the NHS. The latest funding is part of the third wave of the investment, which will be handed out over three years. In 2018/ 19, £16.2 million was awarded, £29.4 million was given in 2019/20 and another £12 million will be invested later this year. The seven trusts which will benefit from this latest round of finding are: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust (£1.7m) Solent NHS Trust (£988,000) Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (£637,000) United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (£1.26m) North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust (£2m) East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (£1.6m) Birmingham Community NHS Trust (£531,000) National director of patient safety, Dr Aidan Fowler, said: “Patient safety is of paramount importance and is something we are continuously looking at ways to improve, whether through new technology, such as the introduction of electronic prescribing, or by building a safety culture where all NHS staff feel supported and safe to speak up.” Read full story Source: Digital Health, 1 October 2020 -
News Article
Patients harmed after roll-out of new IT system
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Patients have come to avoidable harm after a large private provider failed to deliver thousands of medicine prescriptions, according to a report from the Care Quality Commission. Healthcare at Home, which is based in Staffordshire but provides NHS-funded care and medicine supplies to patients’ homes across the country, has been rated “inadequate” and placed in special measures. A report published today said inspectors found more than 10,000 patients missed a dose of their medicine between October and December 2020 due to problems caused by the introduction of a new information system. Reviews have found some suffered avoidable harm as a result. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 13 May 2021 -
News ArticleChelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust announce the successful pilot of ThermaFY Protect and the subsequent roll-out of the unique thermal screening technology across its hospitals. As part of its CW Innovation programme, run jointly with its charity CW+, the Trust approached ThermaFY at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak to codevelop and install automated temperature scanning stations at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital to help reduce the spread of infection. A unique project, ThermaFY Protect, was developed to provide bespoke thermal screening that combines temperature readings with staff identification. Following a successful pilot which involved six ThermaFY Protect screens being installed across the Trust’s main hospital entrances, the Trust and CW+ will now roll out the programme at all hospital entrances and off-site clinics. Amanda Pickford, Founder and Chief Executive of ThermaFY, explains: “It’s been fantastic working with the team at Chelsea and Westminster, who share our entrepreneurial vision and have acted quickly and collaboratively to improve patient and staff safety. During the first pilot, our systems scanned over 500,000 people; now the stations are a permanent feature, scanning over 8,000 patients and staff every day putting patient and staff safety at the centre.” Read full story Source: Digital Health, 27 April 2021
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News Article
Rugby player develops device to track head trauma
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A rugby player has developed a wearable device to monitor head trauma after a teammate was forced to stop playing the sport due to injury. Euan Bowen, 28, played the game at university and in his final year in 2018, when a teammate suffered three concussion injuries in one season. It spurred Mr Bowen to develop an idea for a device to track brain health into the HIT Impact technology, which detects g-force and records impact on an app. After spending time at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Incubator, his product is expected to move into production within the next two months. The sensor he developed can clip on to headguards, any helmet or halo headband and is accompanied by an app which has a 150-metre range capable of recording from multiple devices - with a "Team Play" recording function for sports like football and rugby. It displays a graph showing the force threshold, set by a user, and severity, with a traffic light system and notifications enabling those monitoring to check on a user's injury. Kallum Russell, EBS Incubator manager, said it is "much-needed technology", adding: "The current parliamentary inquiry into concussion recently heard evidence about the long-term implications of repetitive head trauma on sports people, with MPs asking how sports could be made safer. Read full story Source: The Independent, 8 April 2021 -
News Article
New NHS model needed for adoption of innovative medical devices
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The system for introducing new medical technologies into the NHS remains complex, crowded, and difficult to manage, according to a new report by the Medical Technology Group (MTG). The paper also calls for innovative treatments with medical devices to be given the same support as new pharmaceutical medicines. Current NHS mechanisms to support the uptake and use of innovative technology are severely limited in scope and are focused on ‘picking winners’ rather than the broad system-wide adoption of new technology, the report states. It points to the Accelerated Access Pathway, for instance, which supports fewer than 10 technologies each year; and the lack of a clear mechanism to support the widespread uptake of innovative products across the NHS. And the absence of a broad, national commissioning policy means patients sometimes miss out on the benefits of established technology due to a regional variation in access. Read full story Source: BBH, 24 March 2021 -
News Article
Bowel cancer screening capsules the latest in at-home care trend
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
People will be able to check if they have bowel cancer by swallowing a tiny capsule containing miniature cameras, in an extension of patient self-care. In what experts described as a trend towards more NHS at-home care, hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of people in England will be able to avoid the discomfort of having a camera inserted into their bowel by instead swallowing a capsule the size of a cod liver oil tablet. Pictures transmitted from inside their body during the painless procedure will help doctors judge whether the person has bowel cancer, the second deadliest form of the disease in the UK. The boss of the NHS in England said the procedure, known as a colon capsule endoscopy, is an example of “sci-fi” medicine increasingly deployed to improve care. One of the country’s top doctors said the capsules illustrated a major shift of healthcare out of hospitals that will see more and more diagnosis and treatment of illness done at home. Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “We’re aware that some patients are reluctant to seek help for certain cancers because the diagnostic tests available can be invasive, so this is a fascinating development and we will be very interested to see the results of the trial. “GPs are preparing for an upsurge in cases of suspected cancer cases post-Covid, and the capsule cameras and new test for cervical cancer are welcome developments that could enable more patients to monitor and manage their own health at home without embarrassment or discomfort.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 11 March 2021 -
News ArticleA regulator has admitted “concerns” over the software Babylon Healthcare uses in one of its digital health solutions and is exploring how to address this. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority’s (MHRA) concerns relate to Babylon’s symptom checker “chatbot” tool. This is used by thousands of patients, including those registered with digital primary care practice GP at Hand. Two senior figures within the agency set out the MHRA’s concerns about the tool in a letter, seen by HSJ, which was sent to consultant oncologist David Watkins following a meeting between the parties last October. Dr Watkins has raised doubts over the tool’s safety for several years, including repeatedly documenting alleged flaws in the chatbot through videos posted online. However, last year, Babylon said only 20 of Dr Watkins’ 2,400 tests resulted in “genuine errors” being identified in the software. In the letter, dated 4 December, the MHRA’s clinical director for devices Duncan McPherson and head of software related device technologies Johan Ordish said Dr Watkins’ “concerns are all valid and ones that we share”. In the letter to Dr Watkins, the two MHRA directors also said the regulator is further exploring some of the issues highlighted and the work could “be important as we develop a new regulatory framework for medical devices in the UK”. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 4 March 2021
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News Article
Paramedics issued body cams after surge in violent attacks
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Paramedics in London have started wearing body cameras after a 34% jump in the number of violent attacks on ambulance crews. A trial of the technology is being rolled out across the capital in areas where workers are thought to be more at risk based on past incidents. Paramedics can press a button to start recording if patients or the public become aggressive or abusive towards them. London Ambulance Service told The Independent there had been an increase in physical assaults in recent years. Attacks jumped from 468 in the financial year 2018-19 to 625 in the year 2019-20, a 34% rise. Gary Watson, based at Croydon Ambulance Station, will be one of the first staff members to wear a camera. He was violently assaulted by a drunk patient three years ago. He said: “We need these cameras. We get up every day to help people, not to be severely beaten. “Wearing these cameras should act as a deterrent and if it doesn’t then at least there will be evidence which will hopefully mean tougher sentences for criminals.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 23 February 2021 -
News Article
‘Rapid’ assessment launched to help NHS organisations pick new tech
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
NHSX has launched a ‘simpler and faster’ technology assessment process to help healthcare providers pick digital tools that meet NHS standards. The new digital technology assessment criteria provides NHS and social care teams with guidance to decide which tools to use or to recommend to patients. NHS organisations, national bodies and social care will be encouraged to apply the DTAC when considering any form of digital health technology procurement. NHSX described DTAC as “a new simpler and faster assessment process to help give staff, patients and the public confidence that the digital health tools they use meet NHS standards”, adding it “is a rapid process that can be completed in days”. It has previously taken as long as two months for tools to go through assessment processes. The guidance brings together legislation and best practice across five areas. Tools will receive a pass or fail score in the first four categories — clinical safety, data protection, technical security and interoperability — and an additional percentage score for usability and accessibility. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 23 February 2021 -
News Article
Report reveals digital health technology must be accessible for all
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
To be successful digital health technology must be accessible to all while still maintaining the human aspects of healthcare, a new report has said. ‘Digital Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Learning Lessons to Maintain Momentum’ draws on research and case studies of good practice in digital health during the pandemic. The aim of the report is to offer policy recommendations to help ensure the UK capitalises on the potential of digital health to the benefit of patients, the NHS and the UK, after the crisis subsides. The report, launched by the Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health, with support from patient organisations and the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Radiologists, highlights that uptake of digital health technologies has been limited, while patient experience of technologies including video conferencing and mobile apps has been mixed. While patients strongly believe in the value of digital health, there are still significant concerns about using it, particularly around data collection and sharing. A number of key organisations gave their support to the report. This included the likes of the British Heart Foundation, Patient Safety Learning and the Royal College of Nursing. Read full story Source: Digital Health, 3 February 2021 -
News Article
Can digital technology help embed a strong patient safety culture?
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Within a few months of joining Great Ormond Street Hospital Foundation Trust as medical director, Mat Shaw became its chief executive. Heading up the organisation clearly brought with it new responsibilities and challenges, yet he says on one important issue there was little difference between the two roles – namely, the focus on patient safety and enabling clinicians to offer the best possible care for patients. “I lived through the time when all notes were on paper, when you had five, six volumes of thousands of pages. I lived through that time when it was very difficult to actually know what information to collect, and from where you should collect it, to make decisions around patients. And I recognise we don’t always do the right thing based on those systems. “So for me it’s been tremendously important to try and bring a system in, and the digital tools which are needed, to make care kinder and also safer, with better outcomes for patients. In our new strategy, digital is front and centre in a way that it’s never been before, because I consider this agenda so important to how we treat patients.” Read full story Source: HSJ (paywalled), 3 February 2021 -
News Article
Discover the new technology managing cancer symptoms for patients
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
In a new trial, cancer patients across the UK have been using the eRAPID technology system to help them manage their cancer symptoms. The system has been developed by the University of Leeds, and this is the first trial to offer automated advice to early-stage patients whose treatment aims to cure cancer. Hundreds of early-stage colorectal, breast, or gynaecological cancer patients took part in the trial which used computer algorithms to help manage their symptoms and improve their wellbeing. They were able to report online symptoms from home and receive instant advice on whether to self-manage or seek medical attention. Cancer can cause a range of different symptoms for patients living with the disease, as well as from the side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy, which are sometimes life-threatening and all of which lower a patients’ quality of life. Better monitoring and management of these symptoms can help in improving treatment delivery and reducing patients’ physical distress. All patients in the trial received their usual care, with 256 receiving the eRAPID system as additional care. The patients reported better symptom control and physical wellbeing in the early weeks of treatment, with the system preventing symptom deterioration in about 9% of patients after 12 weeks. Dr Kate Absolom, University Academic Fellow in the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s and the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Leeds, said: “The encouraging results from this study will help pave the way for future development and refinement of these interventions in broader cancer settings. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need and speeded a shift towards technology-enabled care, so these study results are very timely.” Programme lead Professor Galina Velikova, at the Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of Leeds, and the Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Rising numbers of cancer patients are receiving a range of anti-cancer treatments which means patients are living longer and require longer periods of care and monitoring. “Remote online monitoring options have the potential to be a patient-centred, safe, and effective approach to support patients during cancer treatment and manage the growing clinical workload for cancer care.” Read full story Source: Health Europa, 11 January 2021 -
News ArticleSurgical hubs, new technology and innovative ways of working will help tackle waiting lists and treat around 30% more elective care patients by 2023 to 2024. Backed by a new £36 billion investment in health and social care over the next 3 years, ‘doing things differently’ and embracing innovation will be the driving force to get the NHS back on track. The funding will see the NHS deliver an extra 9 million checks, scans and operations for patients across the country, but it’s not enough to simply plug the elective gaps. The NHS will push forward with faster and more streamlined methods of treatments. Surgical hubs already being piloted in a number of locations, including London, are helping fast-track the number of planned operations, including cataract removal, hysterectomies and hip and knee replacements, and will be expanded across the country. Located on existing hospital sites, surgical hubs bring together the skills and resource under one roof while limiting infection risk and providing a COVID-secure environment, with more planned to open in the coming year. The NHS has been trialling a range of new ways of working in 12 areas, backed by £160 million, to accelerate the recovery of services. This includes setting up pop-up clinics so patients can be treated quickly, in person, and discharged closer to home, as well as virtual wards and home assessments to allow patients to receive medical support from the comfort of their home, freeing up beds in hospitals. GP surgeries are using artificial intelligence to help prioritise patients most in need and identify the right level of care and support needed for patients on waiting lists. The latest cancer tests being deployed across the NHS are also helping speed up diagnosis and spot cancer early on. Thanks to the hard work of staff, a quarter of a million people were checked for cancer in June – the second highest number on record – and more than 27,000 people started treatment for cancer in the same period. Professor Steve Powis, NHS England medical director, said: "Although the pandemic is still with us and we will have to live with the impact of COVID for some time, the NHS has already made effective use of additional resources to recover services. From adopting the latest technologies to more evening and weekend working, NHS staff are going to great lengths to increase the number of operations carried out. The further funding announced this week will support staff to deliver millions more vital checks, tests and operations, so if you have a health concern, please do come forward to receive the care and treatment you may need." Read full story Source: 8 September, Department of Health and Social Care
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News ArticleA group of patient activists has set up a new website using official NHS data to allow patients to check the waiting times for treatments at their local hospital. The new waiting times tool is thought to be the first automated and regularly updated website that shows hospital performance against key waiting time targets, by medical specialty such as cardiology or orthopaedics. The service, developed by volunteers from the not-for-profit Patient Experience Library, not only shows patients how many people are waiting to be treated overall but also shows data on the median waiting time as well as how well the hospital is performing against targets over time. Patients can also compare different hospitals and look at the performance of the NHS in England overall. Wait times for mental health services are treated separately and not included. Miles Sibley, co-founder of the Patient Experience Library, said the website was an attempt to bring transparency to NHS England’s “impenetrable spreadsheets” which not only affected patients but also other NHS staff who told Sibley they spend hours downloading data and working out their organisations performance. Read full story Source: The Independent, 7 June 2021
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News Article
Ambulance crews in England to get body cameras after 30% rise in assaults
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Thousands of ambulance crews in England will be given body cameras after a sharp rise in attacks on NHS staff treating patients, the government has announced. Data shows that 3,569 ambulance staff were physically assaulted by members of the public last year – 30% more than in 2016-17. The plans come after successful trials in London and the north-east. The cameras will be given to crews in 10 ambulance trusts across the country. Medics will wear the cameras and be able to press a button to start recording if patients or the public become aggressive or abusive, and the film will be given to the police where needed. Prerana Issar, the chief people officer for the NHS, said: “Every member of our dedicated and hardworking NHS staff has the fundamental right to be safe at work and it is our priority to eliminate violence and abuse, which we will not tolerate. As well as reducing the number of incidents towards our staff, these cameras are a vital step towards ensuring our people feel safe too.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 2 June 2021 -
News Article
England test-and-trace glitch blamed for spread of India Covid variant
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A glitch in the government’s £37bn test-and-trace system may have helped fuel the spread of a highly-transmissible Covid variant in one of the UK’s worst-hit towns, it has emerged. The software error meant that more than 700 infected people and their close contacts were not promptly passed on to local health teams, allowing them to potentially spread the disease further. The number of missing cases was highest in Blackburn with Darwen, where about 300 people are believed to have been lost in the system during a faulty IT upgrade. The Lancashire town is battling one of the UK’s largest outbreaks of the fast-spreading variant first identified in India. Labour has described the news as “jaw-dropping”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 20 May 2021
