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. Agenda and papers will be published between now and then.
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.
Inevitably NHS England has reflected on the civil unrest and groundswell of hate seen across the country, including online, during the last fortnight. It’s Chief Executive observes that these racist and Islamophobic riots, following other recent racial incidents and continuing antisemitism, have been shocking and have had a deep impact on many NHS staff and patients. Over 240 leaders joined a webinar to share their concerns for staff and what they were doing locally – a demonstration of just how seriously local teams are taking the welfare of their staff.
One conclusion was that NHS England will work with national partners such as NHS Employers and trades unions to bring together and interpret relevant resources, guidance and policies around supporting staff and addressing racist or other discriminatory behaviour, whether from patients or colleagues.
Dr Hilary Cass’ comprehensive and evidence-led report on gender services for children and young people is welcome. As part of the implementation plan, up to six new specialist regional centres will be set up by 2026 – joining existing services at Great Ormond Street and Alder Hey. Their multi-disciplinary teams will provide holistic assessment and tailored support for children and young people who need it, in line with Dr Cass’ recommendations.
Dr David Levy, Medical Director for Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, is the independent chair of a review into adult gender services, supported by a panel of experts. This exercise will be about pulling together the best available evidence, along with the views of patients and clinicians, to inform an updated adult gender service specification which ultimately serves the people who need these services better.
CQC’s Section report into the treatment of Valdo Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust follows the horrendous murders of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates in June 2023. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones. NHS England is implementing all of the CQC’s recommendations, with every provider of mental health services reviewing the care that people with serious mental illness receive, and has published fresh guidance covering not discharging people if they do not attend appointments and the sharing of risk assessments with partners and patients’ families.
This week sees the launch of the public campaign led by UKHSA to encourage eligible groups to get RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccinations from September. This additional line of protection for people turning 75 and pregnant women will be an important part, alongside flu and COVID vaccines, of building resilience ahead of winter.
Whooping cough cases rise to over 10,000 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . The latest data shows 10,493 laboratory confirmed cases from January to June inclusive. Sadly there’s been another infant death bringing the total to 10 since this outbreak began last November. Timely vaccination is vital for pregnant women as this passes protection to their unborn baby so they are protected from birth and for their first few months. All babies are given 3 doses of the 6-in-1 jab at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect them against whooping cough and other serious diseases such as diphtheria and polio. They get a pre-school booster at 3 years 4 months old.
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 