SO HOW ARE WE NOW? WHAT’S NEXT? OUR IMMEDIATE FUTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN AND SERIOUS.
COVID INFECTIONS AND HOSPITALISATIONS HAVE RISEN STEADILY AGAIN FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS. DEATHS REMAIN SERIOUS. FLU REMAINS HIGH, RECENTLY MOST FOR 15-44 YEAR OLDS. RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) INFECTIONS REMAINS HIGH FOR UNDER 5s & ADENOVIRUS HIGH FOR 5-14 YEAR OLDS. NHS 111 CALLS FOR COLDS AND FLU ARE HIGH, PARTICULARLY FOR OVER 45 YEAR OLDS. SCARLET FEVER & STREP A INFECTIONS REMAIN HIGH.
The sickness bug Norovirus remains prevalent, particularly with the over 65s. Don’t visit vulnerable people, particularly in care homes or hospitals while having diarrhoea and/or vomiting until 48 hours after symptoms stop. Keep practicing good hand hygiene especially after being unwell, using the toilet or preparing or eating food.
Following the death of an 11year old in Cambodia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) urged heightened vigilance about BIRD FLU, UK health experts say we must use the lessons from Covid and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is preparing for the worst-case scenario in case of need. Hopefully this won’t spread but one day we will be faced with another pandemic.
STRIKES of NURSES are on hold as are those of MOST PARAMEDICS AND OTHER AMBULANCE STAFF; A FEW still plan strikes on 6 & 20 March. JUNIOR DOCTORS and hospital dental trainees plan to strike on 13, 14 & 15 March. We will publish further details when known. Thousands of treatments have been lost during recent nurses’ strikes and all these strikes make workloads more challenging. 13,000 hospital beds are blocked by patients fit to discharge. 100,101 hospital beds are available (up from 90,621 last year). Some English Hospitals, including Princess Alexandra, Harlow, are experiencing SEWAGE LEAKS.
Our local health and welfare service providers are restricted by the funding, resources and targets they are given by central government. All our local medical professionals are terribly upset because they can’t look after us properly. They’re doing their very best. The severest winter pressures were predicted last summer. Not enough was done nationally in advance.
This really isn’t a good situation is it? NHS staff shortages are crippling. It takes three years to train nurses and paramedics and five to train new doctors. Safe long-term resourcing, funding and managing our NHS needs to be a national priority for everyone.
We MET OUR MP on Friday 3 March and impressed upon him the need for effective national action and:
- Explained that unlocking the blocked hospital beds will significantly reduce pressures on ambulances, A&Es and GPs;
- Said strikes make things worse and negotiations must be held;
- Asked when St Peter’s Hospital will be replaced one way or another as it is no longer fit for purpose;
- Supported his call for an effective independent or public inquiry into our Mental Health Services, particularly at The Linden Centre, Broomfield; and,
- Explored ways to do better.
We were grateful for this urgent meeting. We will report about it as soon as possible as fully as limited space permits.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests SWF had 355* Covid cases w/e 21 February. 2.2m people in the UK have long Covid; 80+ in the SWF & Dengie area. If you think you have long-Covid see your GP for a diagnosis & referral to a local recovery service.
12 February was the last opportunity to get free Covid vaccinations. You may still be able to get Covid and Flu vaccinations at pharmacies subject to availability of vaccines and payments. The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisations (JCVI) has advised the Government to arrange Spring COVID boosters for the most vulnerable people again this year, and another full Autumn programme like the 2022 one.
With Scarlet Fever and Strep A most people don’t get extremely sick but they can be a serious illness, particularly for young children. Both are treated with antibiotics; there isn’t a vaccine. Get the latest information from pharmacists and at: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know/ .
The Dashboard says in w/e 3 February in England there were 393 (p/w 421) Deaths with Covid on death certificates and in w/e 27 February 5,911 (p/w 6,278) patients admitted to hospital. Hospitalisations and deaths lag behind infections. The *ONS data estimates 1,245,000 (1 in 45) people in England had Covid in w/e 21 February (p/w 1,245,000 = 1 in 45). Taking the ONS estimate and SWF’s population as 16,000 that means there were 355 (p/w 290) SWF residents with Covid in w/e 21 February.
To AVOID CATCHING & SPREADING Covid the Government says: TAKE EXTRA CARE, IF UNWELL AVOID VULNERABLE FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES & RELATIVES; ventilate indoor meetings; meet outdoors; wear face coverings in crowded enclosed spaces. If you get Covid stay home if you can and avoid contact with other people. Most hospital deaths with Covid and flu on death certificates in Essex and England are reported to be of people not fully vaccinated. SWF Health & Social Care Group provides health & social care information and signposting to people, especially those at risk, isolating, housebound, and without local support. Information is on our website https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/ . Contact us on swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave a voicemail on 01245 322079 which is monitored daily.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 