Sunday 3 September 2023:
The Autumn is with us – so coming week will be ‘Indian-Summer-like!. The NHS Summer Stresses, with patients routinely stuck in hospital corridors, have been indistinguishable from Winter Pressures:
- The Junior doctors’ 11-15 August strike put services at tipping point.
- Consultant Doctors struck from 24-26 August. We await reports of the effects of those strikes.
- We now face the prospect of joint strikes: Consultant Doctors 19 & 20 September + Junior Doctors 20 – 23 September, and then all Consultants and Junior Doctors from 2 – 5 October. This is madness; it reflects the extreme frustration of the Doctors some of whom we’re losing. The patients and carers are the victims of this and we have to wonder why the patient and public voice about this is being ignored. These disputes must be settled by negotiations immediately.
- NHSE continues planning for industrial action throughout Winter 2023, in constant discussions to maintain lifesaving services. We reported public guidance in our article in the Focus Issue 1058, our online lead article of 13 August.
- These strikes delay more patients. Patients are waiting longer for treatments. Gaps in staffing and services are increasing. NHS staff endure ever-more stress.
The horrific Lucy Letby case raises questions about NHS management. We have our statutory inquiry into Essex’s mental health services. Most healthcare workers do everything to deliver top quality patient care. Is there a damaging management culture in some places, where corporate reputation and organisational pressures trump whistle blowers and evidence identifying serious concerns needing open investigation?
National norovirus and rotavirus report, week 32 report: data up to week 30 (30 July 2023) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) shows many more Norovirus cases than usual for summer. Laboratories report them 70% higher than average. If you’re sick with Norovirus avoid visiting hospitals and care homes; don’t return to work or school until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped. Hand gels don’t kill Norovirus; handwashing with soap and warm water is best. Use bleach-based cleaners on surfaces to stop the virus spreading. See Norovirus: What to do if you catch it and helping to stop the spread – UK Health Security Agency (blog.gov.uk) .
Encouraging news about living-with-Covid, future preparedness, and arrangements for the Autumn & Winter 2023/24 Flu & Covid vaccinations were in our report in Focus Issue 1058 of 18 August.
The Flu & Covid vaccine programmes have been brought forward and will now start earlier on 11 September. This is as a precautionary measure, because of the of the new variant BA.2.86, described in next paragraph.
Low risk Covid variant EG.5, ‘Eris’ cases have increased steadily since February. UK hospitalisations are increasing, particularly for 85+ year-olds, without more people needing intensive care. The English Dashboard on 30 August reports increases to 76 Deaths with Covid on death certificates and 2,257 patients admitted to hospital with Covid in the last weeks. Latest SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86 was identified on 18 August 2023 based on international transmission with significant mutation of the viral genome. There are a few confirmed UK cases. UKHSA is monitoring this closely through its routine surveillance and will publish analytical results when available.
As students start anew at Universities and Colleges, around 1 in 8 aren’t protected from Meningitis, a common illness for them. Students are urged to be vaccinated against Meningitis and other diseases before the new academic year begins. Meningitis can cause long-term disability, serious health complications and takes lives. Read about this at: Around 1 in 8 new students unprotected against meningitis – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Shingles vaccination programme is changing in the next decade. Eligibility for Immunocompromised people from 50 years old will be added steadily to the existing 70+ year olds. During the same ten years Eligibility for Immunocompetent people will be extended from the present 70+ to 60+ year olds. Shingles vaccination programme: changes from September 2023 letter – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Channel 4 documentary series “Emergency”, available at https://www.channel4.com/programmes/emergency , shows the work of a Major Trauma Network MTN), in London. This mirrors the work of the East of England (EoE) Major Trauma Network. Our Chair leads the EoE MTN’s patient & public engagement group and also sits on a national major trauma research organisation. Major trauma patients in incidents North of the River Crouch are likely to be treated by the EoE MTN, the centre for which is Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Major trauma patients in incidents South of the Crouch are likely to be treated by the London MTN, probably at the Royal London Hospital. Many more lives are being saved and recoveries and qualities of life are so much better since these MTNs were introduced around ten years ago. Every day hundreds of specialists are treating the most traumatically injured patients with miraculous results in so many cases. This series is a seriously informative watch. Public health news items are on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services where staff help with internet access. For welfare information and subscription to our newsletter contact uson swfhealthsocial@outlook.com , or leave voicemails on 01245 322079
SWF Health & Social Care Group 