Whooping cough cases (also known as the ‘100 day cough’) are rising sharply across England. Between January and March 2024 there have sadly been 5 infant deaths. Vaccination is the best protection. UK health officials say there have been 1,319 cases of whooping cough in England in March, up from 900 in February, giving a total of nearly 2,800 so far this year. The last peak year came in 2016, when there were nearly 6,000 cases in England. Half of cases seen so far this year have been in the under-15s, with the highest rates in babies under three months, who are most at risk. The five babies who died this year – the first deaths since 2019 – were all under three months old.
“The troubling thing is that if we continue to have high rates of spread and low rates of vaccination, there will be more babies severely affected, and sadly there will be more deaths,” Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, head of the UK’s vaccine committee said.
Health experts are urging those not vaccinated to come forward to get the jab. The whooping cough vaccine is routinely given as part of the: 6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks; 4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children who are three years, four months old. If you are pregnant, you should also have the whooping cough vaccine – ideally between 16 and 32 weeks. Children who have not been vaccinated can still get the jab up to the age of 10. Vaccination offers enough protection that, if the child is infected, the illness will be mild.
Mid & South Essex Integrated Care System reports improvements to urgent care, cancer, and elective care. In the year ended 31 March:
• Minimum A&E 4 hour wait time 71.16%, up 9+% on 2022-23.
• Category 2 ambulance handover times within 30 mins 84.2%.
• Elective waiting list performance improved:
- reduction of 745 patients waiting over 65 weeks.
- 1858 fewer people waiting over 52 weeks, with additional 7000 patients treated compared to 2022-3.
- The target for clearing the backlog of over 62-day cancer waits from diagnosis to
treatment was exceeded with an overall reduction of 261 patients.
- Performance in the Faster Diagnosis Standard for cancer of 28 days improved to 71%.
Whilst there’s still a long way to go it’s heartening to see these improvements.
The proposed closure of St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, Consultation closed with 5,200+ online surveys completed, hundreds of paper surveys collected, and 15 consultative events held, including SWF’s. Maldon’s public meeting had 400 attendees, with others shut out. We’re lobbying to keep investigative and outpatient services available locally, and see a significant improvement in the quality and outputs of inpatient services.
Our submission to the Public Inquiry Hearing is this Memorandum submission-inquiry-hearing-re-community-services-inc-st-peters-cherry-trees-19mar24-vf.docx (live.com) and Slides https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fswfhealthsocial.files.wordpress.com%2F2024%2F03%2Finquiry-hearing-re-community-services-inc-st-peters-19mar24-vf.pptx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK . Recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSqW0r0vRPw our submission starts at 35:30. A further public consultation hearing is at Proposed changes to services at local community hospitals – now closed | MSE Virtual Views (ics.nhs.uk) .
The independent report with the findings is being prepared and will be published in late spring. This will be used to develop a ‘decision-making business case’. It’s now likely that due to the very large response it will take longer than originally planned to consider all the findings fully and compile a comprehensive business case. So it’s unlikely a decision-making meeting of the Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board will be possible on 11 July. That is likely to be delayed until the September meeting on 12 September. Information about progress will be given at significant stages.
The public inquiry into mental health inpatient deaths in Essex, covering deaths from 2000 to 31 December 2023, includes: serious failings to the delivery of safe and therapeutic inpatient treatment and care; the actions, practices and behaviours of staff; and, the culture and governance of the trusts and how that affected care and treatment.
The Chair of the public inquiry looking into the deaths of about 2,000 mental health patients has invited applications from core participants with a significant interest in the matters being investigated, such as: Essex-based families of mental health inpatients who have died; current and former mental health staff; and organisations providing inpatient services. She’s “committed to carrying out thorough investigations which are appropriately focused and proportionate”. The investigation will include people who died within three months of discharge, and those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care in the independent sector. Hopefully the Chair will start hearing evidence soon; reassurance about the safety and efficiency of Essex’s mental health services is long overdue.
Serious concerns about Measles continue with 1109 English cases since October 2023.
With huge pressures on GPs, ambulances, A&Es and hospitals, wherever possible start by consulting your Pharmacy First, except for life- or limb-threatening emergencies.
SWF’s GPs are delivering Spring Covid Booster vaccinations. Full details at https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/2024/02/18/an-update-from-swf-health-social-care-group-44/ .
Covid cases have increased again; Flu and respiratory infections remain stable at relatively low levels. Public health news is on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and help with internet access. For health & welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com , or leave voicemails on 01245 322079
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