There are encouraging reports that the Budget on Wednesday 30 October will bring a significant boost of funding to the NHS. The NHS recognises this must be accompanied by fundamental reforms to increase productivity. Following the findings of the Darzi report ideas will be sought for the ten-year plan to make the necessary improvements to deliver present and future days’ health services, in the biggest shake up since 1948.
Neighbourhood Health Centres are being trialled, bringing primary medical care together with a wide range of other services including dental, sexual health, urgent care and diagnostics.
As part of the UK package of investment announced on 14 October 2024, a new agreement was signed between NHS England, the devolved health services, UK Government and Eli Lilly for a study in Greater Manchester on the real-world benefits of weight loss treatments, and to fund the development of innovative models of delivering them. At the Livewell Chelmsford meeting on 15 October we heard about Essex County Council’s plans to address obesity, which is one of the biggest public health issues we face. Hopefully such programmes will link with the Greater Manchester project which seems to have Government support. Fast and processed food are major contributors and things must be done about them and our consumption of them.
The use of artificial intelligence and automation are amongst reforms in support for people with severe mental illness. Such innovations are speeding up routine tasks and releasing time for care.
Recent reports of buses not turning up in SWF as timetabled lead to people missing hospital appointments. It was heartening to read that some of our District and County Councillors are trying to get other bus services re-routed to include SWF. In 2025 our group is looking to undertake another of our research projects into accessibility to all medical services in our area.
UKHSA, the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England have launched their “Get Winter Strong” campaign. Everyone is encouraged to ‘Smash’ and ‘Wallop’ flu and COVID-19 this winter. The weekly National Flu and COVID-19 surveillance report has restarted. The report for the last week says:
- Covid cases up 17.8% at 3,496 on 9 Oct; Deaths with Covid on certificate up 27.3% at 163 week to 4 October; hospitalisations up 6% at 2,622 on 28 September.
- Flu cases tested positive rising to 3% with hospitalisations at 0.5%.
- Other respiratory illnesses [Adenovirus, Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus & RSV] tested positive all rising.
SWF’s GPs have started Covid, Flu & RSV vaccinations, all by invitation. Some pharmacies will vaccinate against Flu and Covid by appointment. Those eligible for Flu and Covid vaccinations can use search engines to book online and also find walk-in centres. Those eligible for Winter 2024 Covid vaccinations are: adults aged 65 years and over; residents in a care home for older adults; individuals aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group); and, frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people. Vaccination should be no earlier than around 6 months after the last dose. If you’re eligible, you can get an autumn COVID-19 vaccination even if you haven’t had one previously.
This last week has continued the campaign for everyone to take part in infection control during International Infection Prevention Week. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are increasingly difficult to treat. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics contributes to the rising emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Health education, promoting positive behaviour, including good hygiene and hand washing, along with responsible take up of vaccinations, to children and young people, is crucial.
The theme “If we’re not vaccinated, we’re not protected” continues. Amongst conditions of concern are: 0-5-year-olds’ multiple vaccinations; students against meningitis; measles; HPV (Human Papillomavirus); RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus); Whooping Cough; STIs including gonorrhoea, genital warts and syphilis; Mpox; the latest Covid variant, with cases starting to rise; and international travel infections.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says over the past 2 winters 18,000+ deaths were from flu. The drop in the flu vaccine uptake was very worrying. While uptake in older people last year remained high, only 4 in 10 (41%) of people with long-term health conditions, just over 4 in 10 (44%) 2- and 3-year-olds, and just 1 in 3 pregnant women received the flu vaccine. The guide to who’s eligible for the 2024 flu vaccine is at: https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/2024/09/26/your-guide-to-whos-eligible-for-the-2024-flu-vaccine/ .
The New Hospital Programme review’s terms of reference have been published at:
New Hospital Programme review: terms of reference – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . This review includes the future of Harlow’s Princess Alexandra Hospital. The “Health secretary is ‘committed’ to a new hospital” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3wjwk3kko .
Baroness Lampard’s public inquiry into more than 2,000 mental health related deaths at NHS-run children and adult inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023 opened with Chelmsford hearings of commemorative and impact accounts. The next hearings start remotely on 25 November 2024.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While millions of women receive a mammogram every year, preventing an estimated 1,300 deaths in the UK, only just over half of women attend their first breast screening appointment when invited. Please attend screening appointments when called to do so.
In August, our Mid & South Essex Foundation Trust’s hospitals achieved: 72.6% of patients seen within four hours in A&E Departments; a 21 minute average time for ambulances to hand over patients, compared to 26 minutes in East of England and 31 minutes nationally; 69.5% of patients received their cancer diagnosis within 28 days.
UKHSA found in 2023 that the number of heterosexual men and women newly diagnosed in England with HIV increased by more than 30% since 2022. Data also revealed that testing in sexual health clinics has increased by 34% since 2019 in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM); however, testing has fallen in heterosexual men (by 10%) and in heterosexual and bisexual women (by 22%) since 2019.
You may have seen reports about a rise in cases of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda. The outbreak in Rwanda was confirmed in late September 2024 and there have sadly been some deaths. UKHSA, the NHS and partner organisations have well tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases, and healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases in this country.
Marburg virus belongs to the filovirus family, along with Ebola. It can cause haemorrhagic fever, meaning it can damage blood vessels and cause bleeding, and its presentation can be hard to distinguish from Ebola virus disease. It can cause people to become very poorly and while it has a high fatality rate, it does not spread easily. The symptoms include: severe headache, feeling weak, fever, watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bleeding from different sites including under the skin, feeling sick and being sick.
People travelling to Rwanda are reminded to stay informed by regularly visiting the Travel Health Pro website for up-to-date information on the areas affected and on precautions people can take to protect themselves and others. https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/10/08/marburg-virus-disease-what-you-need-to-know/ 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 