10 September 2023:
Autumn is late after the record-breaking September heatwave which caused dangerous heat-stroke. The NHS Summer Stresses 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 now face joint strikes: Consultant Doctors 19-20 September + Junior Doctors 20–23 September, and then all Consultants and Junior Doctors from 2–5 October. This madness reflects the extreme frustration of the Doctors, some of whom we’re losing. Patients and carers are the victims; why is the patient and public voice about this is being ignored? These disputes must be settled by immediate negotiations.
- 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.
- Patients’ waiting lists grow and lengthen. Gaps in staffing and services are increasing. NHS staff endure ever-more stress.
News about living-with-Covid, future preparedness, and arrangements for 2023/24 Flu & Covid vaccinations were in our report in Focus Issue 1058 of 18 August.
As a precautionary measure due to the new BA.2.86 variant, Flu & Covid vaccinations have been brought forward to start on 11 September.
Low risk ‘Eris’ Covid variant cases have increased steadily since February. Hospitalisations are increasing, particularly for 85+ year-olds, without more people needing intensive care. The 7 September English Dashboard reports increases to 107 Deaths with Covid on death certificates and 2,515 Covid patients admitted to hospital in the last weeks. Latest SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86, identified in August. is now spreading in England with 34 confirmed cases, 28 in a Norfolk care home outbreak. Five of these have needed hospital treatment. These are described as “unusually high numbers”. UKHSA is monitoring this closely and will publish analytical results when available. PLEASE GET VACCINATED IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE. IT’S AS NECESSARY AS EVER.
Channel 4 documentary series “Emergency”, available at https://www.channel4.com/programmes/emergency , shows the work of London’s Major Trauma Network (MTN). This mirrors the East of England (EoE) Major Trauma Network’s workings. Our Chair leads the EoE MTN’s patient & public engagement group and sits on a national major trauma research organisation. Major trauma patients in incidents North of the River Crouch are usually treated by EoE’s MTN, whose centre is Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Major trauma patients in incidents South of the Crouch are normally treated by the London MTN, at the Royal London Hospital. Many more lives are saved with much better recoveries and qualities of life since MTNs were introduced around ten years ago. Everyday hundreds of specialists treat the most traumatically injured patients with miraculous results in so many cases. This series is a seriously informative watch.
As students go to 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. 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) Public health news items are on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and 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 