No images? Click here Issue: 118 Date: 29 July 2021 FeaturedYoung people urged to get the life-saving COVID-19 vaccineThe NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme has reached another major milestone by delivering over 70 million doses of the vaccine. Over 600,000 people were vaccinated in just one weekend, as part of the NHS’s ‘Grab a jab’ campaign, thanks to staff who stood up pop-up clinics and walk-in centres across the country. While almost seven in 10 people aged 18 or over are fully protected, health leaders are urging those who haven’t had their jab, particularly young people, to take up the offer to protect themselves, their friends and family. Adults can book a vaccination appointment on the NHS website. If you cannot book online, call 119 free of charge, any time between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week. The second dose of the vaccine helps to provide maximum protection, so it's important to book both appointments. You can also get vaccinated at your nearest walk-in centre. People who have their first dose at a walk-in centre can book their second dose appointment on the NHS website. NHS patients, staff and visitors must continue to wear face coverings and social distance in healthcare settingsIf you are accessing or visiting a hospital, GP surgery, pharmacy or any other healthcare service, you must continue to wear a face covering and follow social distancing rules. This will help protect patients, particularly those more vulnerable to infections, and staff. Latest newsAmanda Pritchard appointed NHS Chief ExecutiveAmanda Pritchard has been appointed as NHS Chief Executive. She will be responsible for an annual budget of more than £130 billion while ensuring everyone in the country receives high quality care. “I have always been incredibly proud to work in the health service but never more so than over the last 18 months as nurses, doctors, therapists, paramedics, pharmacists, porters, cleaners and other staff have responded so magnificently to the COVID pandemic”. New Innovative Medicines Fund to fast-track promising new drugsNHS patients will benefit from early access to potentially life-saving new medicines, including cutting-edge gene therapies, thanks to a new Innovative Medicines Fund and £680 million of ringfenced funding. ‘Skin snaps’ and rapid tests among NHS push to speed up cancer diagnosisThe NHS is investing £20 million into getting more people checked for cancer, using rapid tests and ‘skin snaps’, with a doctor able to review a medical image of the patient’s skin for diagnosis. Dame Cally Palmer, NHS National Director for Cancer, said: “NHS staff are once again going to great lengths to ensure that those who are coming forward for checks can continue to be seen quickly, so that cancer can be caught at an earlier stage”. Achieving better access to mental health servicesPlans are in place for the NHS to take another major step towards improving patient access to mental health services with the introduction of five new waiting time guarantees. The proposals could ensure patients requiring urgent care will be seen by community mental health crisis teams within 24 hours of referral, with the most urgent getting help within four hours. Mental health liaison services for patients in A&E departments would also be rolled out to remaining sites across the country. £55 million investment in ambulance services to improve recruitmentAmbulance trusts in England will be given extra funding to boost staff numbers ahead of winter. Martin Flaherty, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, said: “The money will be used to help increase capacity both in terms of available ambulances to respond to patients and also in our control rooms, which are having to respond to unprecedented 999 call demand”. Improving health and tackling climate changeWe have reaffirmed our commitment to improve the health of patients, the public and NHS staff by combating climate change. This includes a £260 million investment for green hospitals, which will reduce carbon emissions by 50,000 tonnes and save up to £18 million per year. Supporting patients to be partners in patient safetyWe have published a new framework for involving patients in patient safety. Developed in partnership with patients, the framework recognises the importance of their involvement, alongside their families and carers, in improving their own safety. Celebrating the NHS’s 73rd birthdayOn the NHS’s 73rd birthday, the Queen awarded the George Cross to the National Health Services of the UK, recognising all NHS staff in all four nations. In a personal, handwritten message, the Queen said NHS staff have carried out their work “with courage, compassion and dedication” for more than 70 years. This was a very proud day in the NHS’s history. During the afternoon there was a special service of commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral to thank NHS staff on the front line in the battle against COVID-19. Many fundraising activities took place, including the NHS Big Tea, and on the eve of the NHS’s birthday the Together coalition led a national day of thanks to celebrate the incredible work of NHS staff, all key workers and others in our communities. Landmark buildings in towns and cities across the country ‘lit up blue’ in recognition of the NHS’s special place in our lives. While marking all that the NHS has achieved, it was an important time to remember those we have lost. A special memorial service was held, in the Blossom Memorial garden in East London, to pay tribute to NHS colleagues who sadly died while caring for and protecting patients. Guests during the special service of commemoration. This photograph is courtesy of Graham Lacdao for St Paul’s Cathedral. Parliamentary Awards 2021: the winnersThe annual NHS Parliamentary Awards, hosted by the NHS to celebrate some of the biggest achievements in health and social care, took place earlier this month. Research teams at Oxford University, who developed a COVID-19 vaccine in record time, were among the winners. Others who received awards included:
Watch the recording of the awards ceremony and read about the winners. Get involvedTake part in our patient and public voice partners and chairs surveysIf you are a patient and public voice (PPV) partner or chair, please share your views and experiences by taking part in our surveys: Your feedback will help us to make positive changes. In previous years we have used your responses to improve the training and support we offer to PPV partners and chairs. The deadline for responses is Monday 2 August. Patient and public voice opportunitiesBy sharing their experiences with us, patient and public voice (PPV) partners make a real difference to the way we deliver services. PPV partners include patients, service users, carers, families and other members of the public. We are currently recruiting several PPV partners to support our programmes of work, including our:
More information about these roles and the application process is on our Involvement hub. |