Many hospitals – and indeed other healthcare providers – have recently reintroduced the mandatory wearing of masks in their buildings. This is in line with the government’s current guidance that such policy is a local decision based on local risk assessment.
However it is being reported (see this article in BMJ) that some providers are insisting everyone wear a single-use disposable (surgical) mask which they provide.… more >>>
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) the number of NHS knee replacements has fallen in those areas which have introduced rules on weight and body mass index (BMI). The rates of surgery fell in all patient groups, not just in those who are overweight.
This insistence on weight loss (and physiotherapy) before a patient is even considered for knee surgery seems to be short-sighted and little short of rationing.… more >>>
Most (all?) train operating companies (TOCs) provide information and help on Assisted Travel for the disabled. Here’s a link to the page from Chiltern Railways.
Right at the bottom of the page there’s something I’ve not seen before: Communication Cards. Maybe I’ve missed them and some other TOCs provide them – although a quick random check suggests that quite a few don’t.… more >>>
Concerns are being raised at the increasing prevalence of Scarlet Fever – which mostly affects under 16s. It is a Streptococcal infection, so the treatment is likely to be a course of antibiotics. As far as I’m aware there is no vaccine against Scarlet Fever.
Although not that common these days, compared with 100+ years ago, it is still around; and is highly contagious.… more >>>
There was an interesting (but long read) article in yesterday’s (19 March) Guardian about the work to identify which flu strains to put in this year’s vaccine – and some of the people who spend their lives trying to spot the emerging strains. It’s worth a read if only for background understanding.… more >>>
Dr Clare Gerada, a senior GP and former chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, looks at the way the GP’s job has changed over the last 30 years. No wonder the NHS is haemorrhaging GPs, because it is not a pretty tale.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/22/my-30-years-as-gp-profession-horribly-eroded-clare-gerada [LONG READ]
Never mind what the UK government says for political expediency, here’s some recent advice from expert academic researchers on masks. Essentially anything less than an FFP2/N95 mask is not going to provide decent protection.
Interesting and useful background article in BMJ this week, from three well respected academics, on the complexity of the NHS and how it is affected by Covid. It’s worth a read, if only for the perspective.
