News
‘Twindemic’ poses critical risk, warn healthcare workers
New research has found that two thirds (67%) of healthcare professionals believe that the ‘twindemic’ of rising COVID-19 and Flu cases means there is now a critical risk to the healthcare system in the UK. A study of close to 500 nurses, health and
social care workers, conducted by Florence, the healthcare platform using technology to help tackle the shortage of healthcare staff globally, also found that a quarter (23.8%) of nurses and healthcare assistants think the healthcare system will collapse as a result of the increased pressure, with the NHS and social care system simply unable to cope with the increase in demand. As a result, two thirds (63%) believe the quality of
care will be impacted as a result of the twindemic. Three fifths (61%) say essential services will be overloaded, while over half (56%) are concerned the vulnerable won’t be able to access the care they need. Just one in 100 (0.5%) nurses, health and social care workers believe there will be no impact on the healthcare system whatsoever. The healthcare system is already suffering from
record breaking long wait times and bed blocking in the last few months, and the twindemic is set to only aggravate this further. Over a half (57%) of healthcare workers think it will lead to longer wait times and two in five (42%) believe that there is a greater risk of bed blocking. Many believe the problems the healthcare
system is currently experiencing have stemmed from recent political turmoil. A quarter (23%) state that the quick succession of Health Secretaries has meant that any meaningful change has been difficult. Half of healthcare workers are even more bold in their criticism; 50% think that regardless of whoever holds the position of Health Secretary, there will never be any change in support for frontline workers.
Saliva test for adrenal insufficiency
Researchers from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have found that an at-home test which uses saliva rather than blood provides a faster and more convenient way to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. The test, which was developed by scientists at the University of Sheffield, works by detecting ‘waking’ cortisol, a naturally occurring steroid which peaks in the morning, in saliva rather than the blood. This avoids the need for patients to have a lengthy screening procedure in the hospital where bloods are taken and measured once and then 30 minutes later.
Study findings, published in the New England
Journal of Medicine Evidence, showed that the test provided an accurate and rapid way to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. In addition, patients reported that they found the tests less painful and taking the test at home helped to reduce their anxiety, with this having the added benefit of improving their overall health and reducing the time they had to take off work. The rapid diagnosis also meant that patients were able to be treated imminently and avert an adrenal crisis, which can be a medical emergency.
Number of defibrillators to be increased
The public will have faster access to life-saving defibrillators as the Government has announced a new £1 million fund to increase the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in communities most in need, providing an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators in community spaces across England. The Department of Health and Social Care will
invest the funding through an independent partner in the new year who will manage grant applications from bidding organisations. Those selected will be asked to match the funding they receive fully or
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I February 2023
partially, potentially doubling the number of new defibrillators created by the fund. Applicants will also be asked to demonstrate that defibrillators will be placed in areas where they are most needed, such as places with high footfall, vulnerable people, rural areas, or due to the nature of activity at the site. The independent partner managing the fund will be announced in due course and will work with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that new defibrillators in the community are accessible on a 24/7 basis and are equally accessible across England to all social groups.
Nuffield Trust: Brexit added ‘fuel to the fire’ of severe challenges
The Nuffield Trust think tank has published a report on the impact of Brexit on the UK’s health and care services. The ongoing monitoring work, funded by the Health Foundation, covers the impact on the NHS and social care workforce, medicine and medical devices supply and the economic cost, and reveals negative effects across these areas. The think tank claims that shutting off the
‘relief valve’ of EU migration has put additional pressure on staffing challenges in a health and care system which has relied heavily on EU and international recruitment and without an effective domestic training and retention plan. The impact has been felt most on efforts to recruit care workers, dentists, and specialist doctors. The think tank says that the rapid increase in recruitment of doctors and nurses from the rest of the world is not sufficient to address ongoing shortages, and should not be seen as a replacement for proper workforce planning and efforts to recruit and retain staff domestically. Since the end of the transitional period, recruitment from WHO designated ‘red list’ countries has expanded rapidly. This suggests an increase in active recruitment drives raising ethical questions and opening the system to abuse. Pressures on the supply of medicines and medical devices have also steadily increased, likely due to currency depreciation and trade barriers associated with Brexit. However, the think tank says that there
are some levers within the UK’s power to help address Brexit challenges, including ramping up domestic training and supply of health and care workers.
https://www.nuffieldtrust.org. uk/public/spotlight/brexit-and-the-nhs
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