The government has accepted the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) advice for the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme.
According to the JCVI, the following groups will be eligible for vaccination this autumn:
Individuals aged 65 and over
Residents of care homes for older adults
Those aged 6 months and older in clinical risk groups
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, emphasised the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from COVID-19 and reducing pressure on
the NHS.
He said: "We are committed to protecting those most vulnerable from COVID and have accepted the independent advice from the JCVI for the autumn 2024 vaccination
programme."
"I encourage anyone invited for a vaccine to get one as soon as possible to protect yourself and reduce pressure on the NHS during winter, helping to cut waiting
times and get the health service back on its feet."
The Green Party has previewed its upcoming manifesto with a bold proposal for the National Health Service (NHS) and social care system, promising an
unprecedented level of investment to restore and enhance these critical services.
By 2030, the Greens aim to inject over £50 billion annually into health and social care, accompanied by an additional £20 billion capital investment to modernise
healthcare infrastructure.
Green Party Co-Leader Adrian Ramsay emphasised the urgency of these reforms, stating, "Our NHS is at breaking point following 14 years of underfunding."
"Patients are stuck in hospital corridors, people can't see their GP or NHS dentist when they need to, and staff are severely overstretched."
The manifesto highlights a comprehensive approach to revitalising the NHS, including:
Darren Jones MP, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, visited Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc's new Watford facility on Thursday (6 June) as part of the
imminent Labour Party campaign trail.
Jones was joined by Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Watford, Matt Turmaine, and a team of campaign workers.
During their visit, the Labour delegation met with the directors and founding member of Sigma, Dr Bharat Shah CBE, and discussed the importance of investment
and support for growing businesses and the pharmaceutical sector both in the region and across the country.
Sigma Pharmaceuticals, which is believed to be Watford's largest employer, noted that the pharmaceutical sector contributes a significant value to the East of
England, accounting for 12.3 per cent of the region's manufacturing gross value added (GVA).
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It can affect anyone, regardless of their profession or
personal situation. Recognizing the warning signs of burnout is crucial for taking proactive steps to address it before it leads to more severe health issues.
This article will explore the key indicators of burnout and provide practical strategies for managing and preventing it.
Physical Symptoms of Burnout
Physical symptoms are often the first signs of burnout. These symptoms can manifest in various ways, including chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and muscle
tension. Persistent fatigue, even after a full night's sleep, is a significant red flag. This type of exhaustion can make daily tasks feel overwhelming and
unmanageable.
Insomnia, or difficulty sleeping, is another common physical symptom. Individuals experiencing burnout may find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading
to a vicious cycle of fatigue and sleeplessness. Headaches and muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, are also prevalent. These symptoms are
often caused by the body's prolonged stress response, which keeps muscles in a constant state of tension.
In response to significant ongoing disruptions in the supply of certain Quetiapine tablet strengths, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on Tuesday
issued nine new Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs), with immediate effect.
These measures aim to ensure the continued availability of quetiapine, an essential medication for managing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Under the new SSPs, community pharmacists are allowed to consider different options to manage the shortage of the three strengths of quetiapine tablets affected
by ongoing supply disruptions: quetiapine 300mg tablets, quetiapine 200mg tablets, and quetiapine 150mg tablets.
Depending on the prescribed quantity of the affected quetiapine tablet, pharmacists can either supply a reduced quantity of the same quetiapine tablet or
substitute with an alternative strength or provide a reduced quantity of a specific alternative product.
Most people in Great Britain believe that new junior doctors, nurses and health care assistants are underpaid, senior doctors and matrons are paid about right,
and NHS CEOs are paid too much, according to a new study.
About half the people surveyed indicated that newly qualified junior doctors are paid too little, with this sentiment increasing to three in five (60 per cent) among
Labour voters.
The research conducted by the Policy Institute at King's College London, King's Business School, and Ipsos also showed that more people believe NHS staff overall were
badly paid than well paid.
Dr Nick Krachler, senior lecturer in Human Resource Management at King's Business School, said: "Our survey shows considerable alignment between public perception
of NHS pay levels and the claims of trade unions and professional associations that pay levels - which are determined by government after consultation from a Pay
Review Body - are unsatisfactory for frontline NHS roles."
He highlighted the urgent need to address healthcare workers' economic wellbeing, hoping that the new government will consider it in its upcoming negotiations with
junior doctors this week.
Following the publication of a new study by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that estimates the economic impact and prevelance of hazardous NSAID
prescribing in England, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has underscored the pressing need for enhanced safety measures in medication management.
The study, led by RPS Fellow Rachel Elliott, reveals significant health and financial costs associated with the high-risk prescribing of oral non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among vulnerable populations.
James Davies, Director for England at the RPS, emphasised the critical findings of the research.
"Improving the safety of NSAID prescribing requires a multi-pronged approach, that educates and supports prescribers on the risk, as well as uses the skills
of pharmacists in the primary care team to help identify higher risk patients and prescribing scenarios," Davies remarked.
The study highlights that NSAIDs, while effective in managing pain and inflammation, are associated with serious adverse events, including gastrointestinal
bleeding, renal dysfunction, and cardiovascular issues.