THANKS TO DONORS!: Crouch Vale Medical Centre has some Wheelchairs again. They are being kept safe from loss. So if you need one to take someone in to an appointment you can ask at Reception to use one – and PLEASE return it!
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency confirms taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe and there’s no evidence it causes autism in children. Paracetamol should be taken as directed in the patient information leaflet.
SWF Health & Social Care Group is very grateful to SWF Town Council for approving a grant to enable us to bring award-winning mental health sessions to the Town, guiding participants through the Mental Health Continuum – the spectrum we all move along – and introduce the Emotional Needs and Resources approach. The aim is that this will then lead to a regular mental health group being established here.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a fresh round of strikes by Resident Doctors in England. Recent Union and Government talks have not resolved the dispute. There will be a five-day walkout starting on Friday 14 November. This will be the 13th strike in the long-running pay dispute since March 2023 and is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals. Resident Doctors represent nearly half the medical workforce and range from doctors fresh out of university through to those with up to a decade of experience. They will walk out of both emergency and routine care with senior doctors brought in to provide cover. Whilst the NHS attempted to keep as many routine services running as possible during the last strike, thousands of operations and appointments still had to be postponed. Is public support for these strikes falling away? The NHS remains in a critical position. These strikes must stop. Patients on long waiting lists must be the priority, along with reducing all the pressures on the NHS.
‘Miracle’ Mum Harriet Paget, 36, lost 22 pints of blood giving birth recently. She suffered a set of rare and life-threatening pregnancy complications, which consultants at St George’s Hospital described as their “most challenging” case to date. Following a diagnosis of placenta accreta Harriet gave birth to her daughter at 35 weeks – she has praised the “incredible” NHS team who saved her and her daughter’s life and was so touched by care she received at she named her daughter after her consultant, Ana. They couldn’t have done without the necessary blood transfusions. There are regular blood donor sessions on some Sunday mornings in the William de Ferrers School Hall. To register as a blood donor please go to https://my.blood.co.uk/sign-up .
The Government is seeking views on the proposed ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16 years in England. Please complete the consultation at Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children . It closes on 26 November.
Latest data shows TB (Tuberculosis) in England increased by 13.6% in 2024, when there were 5,490 notifications compared to 4,831 in 2023.Although rates have continued to increase, the risk to the general population remains low. TB is preventable and curable, with 84.4% of patients completing treatment within 12 months. England’s rate of 9.4 notifications per 100,000 population remains below this century’s peak of 15.6 per 100,000 in 2011.
Last week a CQC report rated Basildon Hospital as inadequate during the period December 2024 and March 2025. The watchdog found patients had waits of more than 12 hours in its emergency department. Patients had to stand or sit on the floor of corridors due to “serious overcrowding”. Inspectors had to step in at one point when they saw a person was having a seizure. “Staff were doing their best, but there weren’t enough of them and they often couldn’t see people around corners.” “Disjointed leadership” in the emergency department was undermining its efforts to make more beds available. The environment was also in poor condition, and [CQC] found encrusted liquids on the floor and bowls of bodily fluids left for multiple hours, which could spread infection due to pressures.”
Further concerns raised by the watchdog included:
- People did not always have enough food, drink or pain relief while waiting in the emergency department
- Two people with chest pains waited more than six hours to see a clinician
- Some patients did not receive time-sensitive medication while in the department
- Leaders of the emergency wing, hospital and trust were disconnected from each other, creating a “culture of distrust and low morale”
However, it was noted that staff consistently respected people’s consent to care and had a strong safety culture. They were also praised for learning from previous safety incidents, and the hospital’s medical care services were rated “good”.
The Chief Executive for Mid & South Essex Hospitals said immediate changes were made after the CQC delivered its feedback. “We are committed to providing high-quality, safe services for the people in our care. However, this rating is not where we want to be and we are working hard to improve.” . Since the inspection, a dedicated and specially-trained team of staff have been introduced to the emergency department’s waiting room. “Whilst we recognise there is still more to do, we are confident these changes have already improved our services. Our patients are telling us that things are improving.” [based on a BBC report]
We don’t often report such matters in so much detail. It is good that things have improved. But we will be asking how such things have gone unnoticed by the Governors, Non-Executive Directors, Senior Leadership Team and internal auditors, before CQC arrived? This is happening too often in our local hospitals.
Data published last week shows NHS staff delivered record levels of elective and cancer care in the summer months. A record 4.60 million elective cases were managed by the NHS between June and August – up 138,000 on last year (4.46 million), while 210,946 more cases joined the waiting list in the same period. The NHS also delivered almost 7.5 million tests and checks – over a quarter of a million more than in summer 2024 (7.48 million vs 7.21 million) – and a record 654,640 patients received a cancer diagnosis or had the disease ruled out within the target 28 days. This is 28,560 more patients than in summer 2024, with an extra 2,420 patients starting cancer treatment within 62 days of a diagnosis (59,663 vs 57,243). The record-breaking summer came despite 5 days of strikes by resident doctors, where 54,095 appointments and procedures were postponed – and in addition to being a time when many staff take well deserved summer leave. However, thanks to efforts of NHS staff, the number of treatments delivered per working day was up 4.4% on last August, meaning the NHS is just 1 days’ worth of activity behind delivering its targets for elective care.
Between April and August more than half a million patients (589,336) avoided an unnecessary hospital referral through Advice and Guidance, where GPs access advice directly from consultants for their patients.
A record summer of demand in urgent and emergency care shows every sign of continuing into the autumn, with this September being the busiest on record for A&E and ambulance services. There were 2.31 million A&E attendances last month, a 4% rise on last September (2.21 million). Despite this, a greater proportion of patients were seen within 4 hours compared to last year (75% vs 74.2%). It was also a record September for ambulance staff with 761,433 incidents, a 6% rise on 721,003 in September 2024.
Again we don’t usually report so much detail but we hope this section gives a flavour of the complexity of our NHS. A tremendous amount of good is done. As we say in the next paragraph, why are the improvements outweighed by the greater increasing demand?
The hospital waiting list in England rose for the third month in a row with experts warning tackling the backlog is at risk.At the end of August the waiting list for routine treatments was 7.41 million – in May it was 7.36 million. The proportion waiting longer than the target time of 18 weeks has also risen. This is despite it having been a “record-breaking” summer with more tests and checks being done than ever before. There are new surgical hubs, evening and weekend scans, and cutting-edge technology to get millions more patients treated on time. Why does escalating demand outstrip increased service provision? What has changed since the pandemic? What needs to be addressed as the underlying cause of this?
The NHS invitation to vaccinations is misleading; it should spell out that Covid vaccinations are only available this time for over 75s, immune suppressed people of all ages and people in residential care. Please don’t take it out on staff at GPs or pharmacies who only have, and are only responsible for delivering, the authorised vaccinations.
New UKHSA data shows HIV diagnoses in the UK fell 4% to 3,043 cases in 2024, with England continuing to meet world leading UNAIDS targets for the sixth consecutive year. Deaths among people living with HIV also decreased by 14% from 751 to 643. Despite this, challenges remain in reaching certain populations, particularly amongst young people aged 15-24, with HIV testing rates falling by 7% in this group. This group also had the lowest treatment rates at 96% , with only 91% achieving viral suppression, compared to 98% across all other age groups. UKHSA calls on the public to get tested regularly if sexually active. HIV tests and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) are free and confidential through the NHS and local sexual health services. If people test positive, treatment is highly effective, and they can expect to live a long, healthy life.
The latest report says:
- influenza activity increased, particularly among children, and is now above baseline in some indicators.
- COVID-19 showed decreasing activity, circulating at low levels.
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed increasing activity across some indicators but is still circulating at baseline levels.
The brand-new Thurrock Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has opened, offering faster, local vital tests and scans for thousands of local residents, without the need to go to hospital. Located on the Thurrock Community Hospital site in Long Lane, Grays, the state-of-the-art facility is set to deliver more than 75,000 additional diagnostic appointments every year, significantly reducing waiting times and supporting faster diagnosis for patients across the area. The phased opening has already seen ultrasound, X-ray, echocardiogram, CT and MRI scans performed, with almost 400 appointments in its first week. The other planned CDC sites include Southend (late 2025), Braintree (2026) and Pitsea (2026/27). Together, these centres will create a network of diagnostic hubs designed to catch health issues earlier, improve patient outcomes, and streamline the journey through the NHS.
The August key performances by Mid & South Essex NHS FT’s Hospitals at Broomfield, Basildon and Southend were:
- 75.6% (77.6% in July) of patients were treated, admitted or discharged within 4 hours in their emergency departments; the national standard is 78%.
- 23 minutes (25 mins) was the average time for ambulances to hand over patients, compared to 28mins in East of England and 37 Minutes nationally.
- 64.9% (56.9%) of patients received cancer diagnosis results within 28 days.
GP practice appointments in Mid & South Essex jumped up as the NHS recorded its busiest summer on record. Local GP practices delivered over 71,000 more appointments for residents during June and July compared to last year. Pharmacy services also saw a huge rise in demand this summer, with almost 2,000 Pharmacy First consultations for infected insect bites provided, more than double from last year.
“Is it a cold, flu or Covid – and how to avoid the worst” is an helpful BBC article at:
Cold, flu and Covid symptoms: Expert advice and how to avoid the worst – BBC News . Extract:
Colds
- Symptoms appear gradually
- Mostly affect nose and throat
- Early sign – pressure in your ears
- Chestier, mucus cough
Flu
- Comes on suddenly
- Feel wiped out
- Fever, muscle aches, exhaustion
- Need bed rest
- Dry cough
Covid
- Typical flu symptoms
- Loss of taste or smell
- Diarrhoea or tummy upset
Many of the symptoms of colds, flu and more serious viruses like Covid, overlap.
Our virtual public 2025 AGM was held on 25 September. Highlights of our 2024-25 year were the publications of our “The Impact of Covid on Dying, Death & Bereavement” film, and our “Accessibility to Healthcare Services in SWF, the Dengie & Maldon” report. The film enables people to reflect on their sad and traumatic experiences. The report is informing things including the Essex Transport Strategy and community transport. Our 2024-25 Annual Report is at:https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/2025/09/21/the-swf-health-social-care-group-public-meeting-agm-2025/ . The Executive Summary lists our achievements. Section 4 lists many issues that we’ll be addressing this year.
New Covid strain Stratus infections are surging. Stratus’s most frequent early warning indicator is a hoarse or gravelly voice, which subsequently gives way to the typical Covid signs like a temperature or cough. Hospital admissions are rising, and deaths are around 80pw.
Winter flu and COVID-19 vaccinations have started. GPs will invite those who are eligible. You can also get them from some pharmacists. Flu vaccinations for 2&3-year-olds are available for the first time at some pharmacies. Vaccines help protect what matters most. There’s a Back to school vaccination drive. Pre-school booster vaccination protects against serious diseases including polio, whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria. A free chickenpox vaccination will be offered for the first time to children in England from January. It will be in a combined vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox given to eligible children during routine GP appointments starting in January.
Students returning to or arriving at universities and other further education institutions are being reminded to ensure they are up to date with their free NHS vaccinations.
RAAC is removed from 7 more NHS hospitals. Our own Broomfield Hospital is among those hospitals now eradicated of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Martha’s Rule enables patients, families and carers in hospitals to request an urgent review if a loved one’s condition deteriorates and they’re concerned that this is not being responded to. Staff can also ask for a review of a patient by a different team if they are concerned appropriate action isn’t being taken. This follows a pilot across 143 sites from May 2024.71.9% of calls were from families, with 720 leading to changes in care. 794 calls led to clinical concerns being addressed.
Patients with potentially deadly illnesses will be diagnosed sooner through a new life-saving patient safety initiative. Jess’s Rule is being rolled out across NHS England. The new initiative asks GPs to think again if, after 3 appointments, they have been unable to offer a substantiated diagnosis, or the patient’s symptoms have escalated. Jess’s Rule will make this standard practice, aiming to reduce health inequalities and ensuring everyone receives the same high standard of care. Our weekly newsletter includes everything we’ve published in the previous 7-days. Libraries provide online services and help with internet access. For welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave a voicemail on 01245 322079.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 