It has been revealed that a quarter of frontline doctors have sought mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published data showing that, after having faced one of the worst public health crises of the modern era, 1 in 4 doctors has sought mental...
Teachers ‘not at significantly higher risk’ from Covid-19
New figures suggest that teachers are not at significantly higher risk of death from Covid-19 than the general population. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that care workers, restaurant staff, taxi drivers, security guards, nurses and people working in certain manufacturing roles were among those with the highest death rates....
HSE checks Covid-secure measures in transport and logistics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been conducting spot inspections on transport and logistics firms to ensure they’re managing the risk of Covid-19 during periods of high demand. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has been working with local authorities to carry out the spot inspections and ensure that businesses in the transport...
‘Shocking’ rise in child abuse during lockdown
The Children’s Society has described the 27% increase in reported incidents of children dying or being seriously harmed following suspected child abuse or neglect as ‘shocking.’ It has been revealed that the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel received 285 serious incident notifications from April to September 2020, following England’s first national lockdown to combat...
Skills for Care investigates key issues affecting BAME workers
A recent survey from Skills for Care has found that adult social care workers from black, Aisan and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds face significant challenges with racism, progression, representation and health. People from BAME backgrounds account for 1 in 5 of the adult social care workforce in England, but despite playing a crucial role...
Early Years groups call for vaccine priority
Early years groups are calling for nursery workers to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as a priority. The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), Early Years Alliance (EYA) and National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) want mass testing to be carried out in early years settings, as well as vaccine priority for the early...
New Oxford vaccine rolled out to GP sites
It has been confirmed that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19 is to be rolled out to hundreds of GP-led vaccination sites in local communities today. Over 700 local vaccination sites, as well as another 180 GP-led sites, 100 new hospital sites, and possibly local pharmacy sites as part of a new pilot scheme, will...
Delay to new school term will be ‘as short as possible’
The Education Secretary has said that the closure of schools in England due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic would be as “short as possible.” Gavin Williamson defended the recently announced delay to the start of the new school term, saying that the government was “battling this hidden enemy” and that schools were being provided...
Study shows pandemic’s impact on mental health
A new research study has found that key indicators of poor mental health and wellbeing – such as loneliness, suicidality and not coping well with stress – have worsened among UK adults since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The four-nation longitudinal study, led by the Mental Health Foundation and its university partners, has...
Mencap report reveals Covid-19 inequalities for people with learning disabilities
A new report from Mencap has revealed the “shockingly high health inequalities” faced by people with a learning disability during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report, entitled ‘My Health, My Life: Barriers to healthcare for people with a learning disability during the pandemic’, reveals a number of failings and highlights shocking figures which show that...
HSE continues safety spot checks in run-up to Christmas
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made clear that it will be continuing spot checks and inspections as Christmas approaches. Britain’s health and safety watchdog will be calling and visiting all types of businesses across the country throughout December in order to ensure they are COVID-secure and following all health and safety regulations....
Care homes must be patient over Covid-19 vaccine rollout
Although care home residents are top of the priority list to receive the new Covid-19 vaccine, logistical issues mean there could be a delay in getting it to them. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has called for patience over the rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19, which was approved for...
Ofsted warns of ‘invisibility of vulnerable children’ in lockdown
Ofsted have warned that vulnerable children at risk of harm have “slipped out of sight” during the national coronavirus lockdown. England’s Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Spielman, has warned that, when schools were closed during the first national lockdown, children may have missed out on the help they needed due to teachers being unable...
CQC publishes Covid-19 inpatient survey
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the results of it’s coronavirus (Covid-19) inpatient survey. The key findings reveal that the majority of people were positive about their experience of hospital care during the first wave of the pandemic, but that those who were diagnosed with coronavirus did have poorer experiences than those who...
Children more likely to catch Covid in second wave
Children are now more likely than adults to be infected with Covid-19 and bring the infection into a household, it has been revealed. The government’s scientific advisors say that the number of school-age children with coronavirus has risen “significantly” during the second wave compared with the first, and that people living with secondary-school-age children...