Call for clear communication on changing COVID-19 rules

The results of a two-wave survey examining the factors affecting lockdown policy support suggest the Government must clearly explain why restrictions are no longer necessary.

Authors say their findings impact five practical aspects of how public health policy is formed including:

  • People's perception of personal threat is not necessary for them to be persuaded to support lockdown. People typically judged the threat of COVID-19 at a general level.
  • Understanding that people are ambivalent about lockdown policies is important in countering the polarisation that has appeared in academic discourse. The complexity and nuance in people's positions needs to be communicated.
  • If governments want the public to feel confident about the release of lockdown restrictions, then they need to clearly communicate why those restrictions are no longer necessary, nor likely to return in future.

Royal Society Open Science

Framework for involving patients in patient safety

NHS England has published a new framework for involving patients in patient safety.

It outlines ways to involve patients in their own healthcare and safety including:

  • Encouraging patients to ask questions.
  • Individual information-sharing sessions for patients which encourage shared decision making and self management.
  • Information campaigns, for example, encouraging people to be vigilant about hand cleaning.

The framework says, whatever the approach, patients should have enough information to participate in decision making and information should be consistently written in plain language without jargon.

NHS England

Latest Marmot review leads to new framework to reduce inequities

The UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE) has published a new framework including recommendations on how to reduce health inequities and build back fairer from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Build Back Fairer in Greater Manchester: Health Equity and Dignified Lives is part of a new Marmot Review and comes as life expectancy falls for everyone across the UK and health inequities widen. 

The Manchester City Region had a 25% higher COVID-19 death rate than England as a whole in the 13 months to March 2021. 

IHE

2022 GSK Impact Awards

Applications are now open for the 2022 GSK IMPACT Awards. 

The awards provide core funding and free training for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. 

Up to 20 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000, plus free training and development valued at a further £9,500. Organisations will also have a film made, receive help with press and publicity, and be given a set of promotional materials.

A new GSK Grow programme will support charities with total annual income between £20,000 and £120,000. 

Up to 10 charities will receive £10,000 in unrestricted funding plus training and development valued at £3,200.

The King's Fund

COVID-19 vaccination planning for autumn/winter

NHS England has published a letter detailing the basic principles of COVID-19 vaccination autumn/winter (phase 3) to support local planning.

It includes interim guidance on booster vaccinations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation which says any potential booster programme should begin in September to maximise protection to those who are most vulnerable.

NHS England

Helping people with English as a second language navigate the NHS

Involve North East has released new English for Health resources.

The series of videos and accompanying workbooks are designed to help people who do not have English as a first language understand the NHS. They cover:

  • An introduction to the NHS
  • How to use a GP
  • How to find the right help

Involve North East

NICE consultation on draft pelvic floor dysfunction guideline

NICE has published its draft guideline on the prevention and non-surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction and is seeking stakeholder comments on the draft recommendations.

The draft guideline covers the prevention, assessment, and non-surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction in women aged 12 and over.

NICE

Women's health information enhanced by charity partnerships

Digital health company Cognitant Group has partnered with charities and independent healthcare providers to increase access to women's health information.

Through its Healthinote platform, health and care professionals can access and share content from trustworthy sources to provide information prescriptions to their patients.

Partners include MSI Reproductive Choices, the Fertility Network, the Miscarriage Association, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and a number of heart disease and cancer charities.

Cognitant

New services to help people living with obesity

NHS England has launched a new service supporting adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme was backed by £12 million of Government funding.

It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme. People can access it via a smartphone or computer with internet access.   

NHS England

Call to recruit participants for help with end-of-life care research

Researchers are recruiting family carers and relatives to take part in a research study on end-of-life experiences of people of African and Caribbean descent during the coronavirus pandemic.  

The team from Newcastle University and the University of Manchester would like to interview relatives of people of African and Caribbean descent who died during the pandemic from any cause. 

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Policy Research Programme.  

NIHR Policy Research Unit

Event: ELF Long Covid Patient Conference

The European Lung Foundation (ELF) is hosting a virtual Long Covid Patient Conference on Saturday 10 July.

The event is free to attend but registration is essential. There will be opportunities to ask the panel of health experts and patients questions.

The event will be chaired by Professor James Chalmers, Clinical Professor at the University of Dundee, alongside a patient with Long Covid.

ELF