SWF Health & Social Care Group’s 2024 virtual AGM and public meeting will be held from 1830-2030 on Thursday 29 August; send requests to attended to swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or 01245 322079..
Our film, ‘The Impact of Covid on Dying, Death & Bereavement’ is published on our website at https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/2024/08/07/the-impact-of-covid-on-dying-death-bereavement-a-film/ It’s been submitted to the UK Covid-9 Public Inquiry.
With ongoing heatwaves, UKHSA’s “How Heat-Health Alerts contribute to keeping the vulnerable safe this summer” is at: : https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/07/30/how-heat-health-alerts-contribute-to-keeping-the-vulnerable-safe-this-summer/. It’s crucial to understand the significant health implications that accompany changes in temperature.
After the cessation of Dart and Arrow local transport services, Essex County Council’s new arrangements include:
- NIBs Service 45 Bradwell-on-Sea to South Woodham Ferrers
Travel is free of charge whilst this is ‘unregistered’ because it’s been arranged at speed.
Following our and others lobbying Park and Ride returns to Broomfield Hospital. The Chelmer Valley Park and Ride shuttle to Broomfield Hospital runs every half-hour from 6:30am to 8:00pm, Monday to Friday. This very welcome story is at https://www.essex.gov.uk/news/2024/park-and-ride-returns-broomfield-hospital .
The government and BMA have struck an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years.The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee will put the offer to its members. If accepted it would spell an end to the long-running strike action which has led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments since March 2023.
There’s concern about the future of the New Hospitals Programme. No pre-determined savings from this programme have been decided. The NHS and Department of Health and Social Care are undertaking a thorough review of projects and decision-making.
The Health Secretary is reviewing the “broken” NHS. He’s taking emergency measures to start to make the health and care services regulator CQC fit for purpose. With Blood Stocks at ‘critically low levels’ there are urgent appeals for people with O-type blood to donate, whilst an amber alert restricts hospital use of that blood-type to essential cases only. https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/campaigns/blood-donor-appeal/
Professor Lord Darzi is assessing the state of the NHS. His report will provide ‘raw and honest assessment of issues facing the health service and feed into a governmental 10-year plan to radically reform the nation’s health service’. 3 key steps in the growth mission are: cutting waiting times to get people back to work; making the UK a life sciences and medical technology superpower; and, creating training and job opportunities through the NHS to deliver growth up and down the country.
We await publication of the final version of the report of the findings of the independent consultation about the future of community health services, in particular those at St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, after taking account of requested corrections to the draft. An extraordinary Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board meeting in public on 30 September 2024 is scheduled for decisions.
The summer wave of Covid continues. UKHSA continues its warnings about Whooping Cough, Measles, STIs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), Farm Visits, Flu & respiratory illnesses, ticks & Lyme disease, travel health, & Festivals. We’ve written about all these previously. 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 https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/
SWF Health & Social Care Group 