More important things about healthcare have happened this week; new and updated items follow first.
Data for week 50 8-14 December shows:
- influenza increased a bit more nationally and a lot locally and is at medium levels.
- COVID-19 activity remained stable and is at baseline levels.
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed mixed trends and is circulating at medium levels.
- Norovirus has increased in recent weeks and is at expected levels; the highest rate is among children.
So the Resident Doctors are on strike again for 5 days from 17-21 December. The run up to Christmas is one of the busiest times for hospitals and the NHS.This is the 14th strike by the doctors’ union since March 2023 and is expected to be causing significant disruption, particularly in hospitals. The duties of medical professionals registered with the General Medical Council include: “Patients must be able to trust medical professionals with their lives and health. To justify that trust you [medical professionals including doctors] must make the care of patients your first concern, and meet the standards expected of you…. .” Are the Resident Doctors in breach of that duty by striking, and at a time when most people are suffering from financial constraints and/or waiting long times for health treatments, have they now lost public support whilst patients suffer the consequences of these strikes?
Last week the number of flu patients in hospital had hit a record high for this time of year. But by 18 December whilst the NHS remains on high alert over flu there are signs the surge in the virus has come to an end for now at least. Community spread appears to have stabilised according to the UK Health Security Agency. The national rise in hospital cases has slowed, although in our area it continues rising quite a lot. With just over 3,000 patients with flu in hospital in England the dire prediction by NHS chief executive of “between 5,000 and 8,000” cases has not materialised.
The major difference between the 2025 flu season and the last three years is that the virus started spreading a few weeks earlier than normal. Figures had been rising quickly over the autumn and at the start of winter. Whilst the spread of the virus appears to have stabilised, it’s too early to say whether this marks the start of the peak. Flu is unpredictable; a lull can be followed by another surge.
The general public has not encountered this exact version of flu before, which means there may be less immunity built up in society, allowing it to spread more easily. Children and young people are most affected. The message coming from doctors and the NHS is for people in vulnerable groups to continue to come forward for a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is free on the NHS for those over 65-years-old, young children, pregnant women, those with certain health conditions, carers, and front-line health and social care workers. People in other groups can get the same vaccine for between £15 and £25 from high street pharmacists.
It is a terrible indictment of the present situation that this week the NHS has published updated Principles for providing patient care in corridors! The term ‘corridor care’ is inclusive of any non-designated clinical space. “The use of corridor care is never acceptable and must be avoided when caring for the following patient groups:
- children
- mental health patients
- patients with learning disabilities, neurodivergence or autistic patients
- patients with physical disabilities
- patients who have dementia, confusion or delirium
- patients who are confirmed or suspected of being infectious
- any patient with a National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2 score over 5
- patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- patients who are severely frail
- patients who are at end of life.
This is not an exhaustive list, and each patient must be assessed before being placed in corridor care. An equality impact assessment should be undertaken whenever corridor care is being considered for a patient.”
The core principles for corridor care for patients are:
- Assessment and mitigation of risk
- Escalation
- Quality of care
- Raising concerns and reporting incidents
- Data collection and measuring harm
- De-escalation
Meanwhile, NHS bosses urge patients not to clog up A&E with everyday niggles as new figures show thousands turned to hospitals for minor ailments including hiccups and ingrowing toenails last winter. Patients with minor conditions are advised to seek help elsewhere, including from pharmacists, GPs and NHS 111 (via the phone or online) as some can be managed at home. As winter pressures increase and local NHS services experience higher demand, we’re all asked to play our part by using services wisely. Please remember: A&E is for life-threatening emergencies or serious injuries only. NHS services work best when everyone chooses the right option for their needs, helping ensure emergency teams can focus on those who need them most.
Mid & South Essex local research highlights:
- 42% of people who visited A&E for a non-emergency said they went because they believed they would be seen faster.
- 22% later realised they could have been treated by another NHS service such as a pharmacy, NHS 111 or their GP practice.
- 43% of people locally say they have had a winter illness recently. More than half chose to manage symptoms at home, while a quarter sought advice from their pharmacy.
This month saw the launch of the NHS Service Access PR campaign to help improve our understanding of the different NHS services available as we head into winter and help ease pressure on urgent and emergency care services. The campaign features a short film, titled ‘24 hours NOT in A&E’, playing homage to the format of popular TV documentary ‘24 Hours in A&E’. The film at 24 hours NOT in A&E | NHS focuses on pharmacy, NHS 111, the NHS App and GP digital access (online consultation request forms), showcasing the things that these services can help with – quickly and easily.
The Government has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on eligibility for the spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccination programme. A COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to those in the population most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination. Vaccination will be offered in England in spring 2026 to:
- adults aged 75 and over
- residents in care homes for older people
- individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed
This eligibility criteria is the same as in Spring 2025 and Spring 2024.
England’s Men’s Health Strategy was launched on 18 November:
- Landmark strategy published on International Men’s Day aims to tackle men’s mental health challenges, improve physical health and reduce inequalities so men and boys get on and live longer, healthier lives.
- As part of the strategy, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will team up on the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative and smash the stigma around mental health.
- Men with prostate cancer will also benefit from improved care through the strategy, alongside £3.6 million investment in suicide prevention projects targeting middle-aged men.
The Health Secretary has launched an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services in England. It will look at both whether there is evidence of over-diagnosis and what gaps in support exist. There are long waits for therapy in many areas. NHS figures show rates of mental health problems and ADHD have increased significantly over the past two decades. Are people being referred on to waiting lists who do not need treatment? There is a need to examine this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding so that those who need it get timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.
An HIV Action Plan was launched on 1 December to tackle the stigma that remains a barrier for many people. Fear of judgement and discrimination means some people don’t get tested, leaving infections undiagnosed and untreated. Thousands of people across England will benefit from improved HIV testing and treatment under a new action plan designed to end new transmissions by 2030, backed by £170m. This programme will find and support people who are not accessing lifesaving HIV treatment and bring them back into care. HIV is now entirely manageable – with the right treatment, people can live long, healthy lives and cannot pass the virus on to others. Around 5,000 people are no longer in care, with reasons including mental health issues, addiction, poverty or fear of judgement.
Broomfield, Basildon & Southend Hospitals’ October Performance was:
- 74.9% (74.2% in September) patients were seen within four hours in the emergency departments, against the national standard of 78%. The expectation to meet the standard by the end of November was not met. Measures, including using direct assessment units and same day emergency care are being used, easing EDs’ pressures.
- 32 minutes (25) was the average time for ambulances to hand over patients. 75.9% of ambulances handed over within 30 minutes.
- 60.5% (59.6% in August) of patients received cancer diagnosis results within 28 days in September. Diagnostics, outpatient capacity, and support is being increased for thoracic, breast, histopathology and radiotherapy.
In the report into the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic Chairwoman Baroness Hallett said the UK’s response could be summarised as “too little, too late”. Lockdown could have been avoided completely. Lockdown a week earlier could have saved thousands of lives. ‘Chaotic’ UK government criticised. Lockdowns left ‘lasting scars’. Politicians breaking rules undermined public confidence. Devolved governments relied too much on Central Government. The report’s long list of recommendations, includes:
- Improve communication between the four nations during an emergency.
- Improve consideration of the impact decisions might have on people – both by the illness and the steps taken to respond to it.
- Create expert groups to advise on economic and social implications, not just the science.
- Ensure decisions and their implications are clearly communicated to the public.
- Enable greater parliamentary scrutiny of emergency powers.
The Morning After Pill is now available for free to women from almost 10,000 pharmacies across the country without needing to see their GP or get a sexual health clinic appointment.
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With best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year.
SWF Health & Social Care Group 