covid 19

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Health on the high street: Embedding healthy living into urban regeneration after the pandemic Social Market Foundation; January 2021

(This report argues that town centres where shops and offices fall vacant should be used to establish new ‘health hubs’ combining GP surgeries, health and social care services and gyms. The report profiles examples where local authorities and health care bodies are already developing such hubs, which it suggests could be a model for other areas in future)

New Every Mind Matters campaign Public Health England; 18th January 2021

(The new campaign launches to support the nation’s mental health, as half of adults say they are more worried during this current lockdown than in March 2020.)

SACN statement on nutrition and older adults living in the community Public Health England; 20th January 2021

(This position statement by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides an overview of the currently available evidence on nutrition in older adults and its impact on healthy ageing. It considers evidence relating to adults aged 65 years and over living in the community.)

Memory aids in parks and gardens for people with dementia.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 8/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26876
(This search report contains evidence on the use of memory aids of garden flora in the outdoor setting. Results include a study on Enrico Sassi’s conception of a garden where patients can wander around safely and has memory aids in the shape of vertical structures with fragrant plants and herbs for patients to freely touch, smell and taste. Results include reviews on the effectiveness and more general benefits of gardens as memory aids for those with neurodegenerative conditions.)

National Diabetes Audit – Care Processes and Treatment Targets, Quarterly Data Release, January to September 2020.
NHS Digital; 2021.

(This is the quarterly release of data from the National Diabetes Audit (NDA). It is the mid-year data release for the second extraction of NDA 2020-21 data. It shows progress to date covering the period 1 January to 30 September 2020. It shows partial year progress against care processes and treatment targets. It also provides the latest position on structured education. It therefore can be used as an operational planning tool to assess progress to date.)

Multidisciplinary care of diabetes.
Carried out by Kevin Burgoyne from Brighton and Sussex on 9/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26607
(Some qualitative and mixed methods research is available on this question, including 3 systematic reviews looking at various aspects related to the question. Case studies from UK networks looking at aspects of wider integrated care have also been found and included in case they can be useful. Foot care seems to be a big driver in diabetes care in the UK at the moment, and there are more publications focused on multidisciplinary care around this which can be retrieved if necessary.)

Effects of Pfizer mRNA vaccine on female fertility.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 11/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26845
(It is early days and currently there is no evidence to suggest fertility is affected by the Pfizer vaccine (or any other COVID-19 vaccine). There is guidance and advice on being vaccinated while pregnant, but nothing on long/short term female fertility.)

Daily contact testing in schools: statement from PHE and NHS TT about next steps.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Position statement regarding daily contact testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) in schools from Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace.)

Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK Household Longitudinal Study.
Robertson E. medRxiv 2020;:doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.27.20248899.
(Herd immunity may be achievable through vaccination in the UK but a focus on specific ethnic minority and socioeconomic groups is needed to ensure an equitable vaccination programme. This article is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.)

Learning from the first wave of COVID-19.
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System; 2020.

(A new research-led report details how health and care partners across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw were able to continue delivering non-essential patient care and services during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic through digital innovation, reconfiguring services and enhanced partnership collaboration.)

Please contact Academic.Library@lscft.nhs.uk if you are struggling to access any research articles.

Delivering Core NHS Services

Government response to the Committee’s second report of session 2019–21

Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert

This report finds that the Covid-19 response has greatly accelerated the use of digital technology, has mainstreamed remote consultations, and similar effects are being seen for remote monitoring. There has been greater flexibility and resilience in the workforce, as well as improved decision-making and access to information through the better use of data and simplified information governance guidance. It concludes that these changes should be embedded and extended to support the health and care system’s recovery from the pandemic and ongoing resilience.

Covid 19 Communication Handbook

A practical guide for improving vaccine communication and fighting misinformation

A practical guide (in wiki format) for improving vaccine communication and fighting misinformation. This project tracks behavioural science evidence and advice about COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

A Close-Up View of a Covid-19 Vaccine Vial on Blue Background

To find out more click here.

Caring for and supporting volunteers

How can leaders support the wellbeing of volunteers?

Source: The King’s Fund

In this latest article from our Leading through Covid-19 series, Samaritans branch director Helen Goldsmith outlines how the charity has prioritised the immediate and long-term wellbeing of volunteers during the pandemic.

To read the article click here.

Digital Inclusion in Mental Health

A guide to help improve access to digital mental health services

Source: The King’s Fund Health and Wellbeing Bulletin

In the wake of Covid-19, the use of remote or digital mental health services was accelerated or adopted to ensure individuals who need services could continue to access support. This guide aims to help mental health service providers ensure all individuals in need of mental health services have choice in the care they receive, and nobody is excluded due to a lack of digital access, confidence or skills.

To find out more click here.

Current Awareness updates

Evidence base for PCR and lateral flow testing.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 7/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26921
(This is a rapid review for evidence on PCR and lateral flow testing. It focuses on the most recent articles including evaluations on their use in the community.)

Clinical practice guide for improving the management of adult COVID-19 patients in secondary care: Shared learning from high performing trusts during COVID-19 pandemic
Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT); 2021.
(Summarises challenges faced and responses used by high performing trusts visited as part of the GIRFT cross-specialty COVID-19 deep dives, as well as identifying successful innovations they implemented.
Covers infection prevention and control, emergency medicine, critical care and anaesthesia, acute and general medicine, respiratory medicine, geriatric medicine and community care and diabetes. Cross cutting themes: Trust leadership and management, research and clinical coding).

Ensuring provision of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (SRH) services during the second COVID-19 wave and beyond in the UK.
Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH); 2020.
(This latest FSRH guidance is aimed at healthcare professionals and commissioners across the UK. It outlines essential services that must remain available to women during and past the pandemic as well as recommendations on delivering services and prioritising patients.)

COVID-19 vaccination: easy-read resources.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
(Easy-read guides providing information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and vaccination.)

UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
(How the UK government was able to build up a supply of vaccines and how it is planning to deploy them. 11 January.)

Prioritising the first COVID-19 vaccine dose: JCVI statement.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.
(Statement from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) about increasing the short-term impact of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. 6 January.)

2020 reviewed

The Health Policy Year in 12 Charts

Source: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

The wheels of health policy turn quickly. So, as 2021 begins Siva Anandaciva looks back at the key health policy moments of 2020 to consider the challenges and opportunities the year brought. The blog sums up the year of changes and influences of Covid 19 throughout the year.

To read the review click here.

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Impacts of outlets selling alcohol on drinking levels or alcohol related harm.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 2/12/2020
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26501
(This evidence report is a very brief evidence search on the effect of reducing or increasing density of outlets selling alcohol on impacts of drinking levels or alcohol related harm. Most of the results are set in the UK.)

Mass asymptomatic testing: schools and colleges.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2020.
(Find out how to administer testing which will begin in January 2021.)

Vitamin D for vulnerable groups.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2020.
(This guidance accompanies the Department of Health and Social Care’s initiative to offer a free 4-month supply of vitamin D supplements to support general health, and in particular bone and muscle health. The guidance is for anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable and has been offered a free supply of vitamin D supplements in England from January 2021.)

The safety of COVID-19 vaccines when given in pregnancy.
Public Health England (PHE); 2020.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-of-covid-19-vaccines-when-given-in-pregnancy/the-safety-of-covid-19-vaccines-when-given-in-pregnancy

National lockdown: Stay at Home.
Cabinet Office; 2021.
(Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do.)

A qualitative exploration of 14 to 17-year old adolescents’ views of early and preventative mental health support in schools.
Journal of Public Health; 2020.
(Preventative interventions may be effective in reducing and preventing symptoms of mental ill health in children and young people. However, there is a paucity of research in this area that explores the views of young people. This paper reports on a qualitative study to inform the future development of attractive and appropriate early and preventative school-based mental health interventions.)

Unequal impact?

Coronavirus and BAME people

Source: The King’s Fund Health and Wellbeing Bulletin

This report outlines the findings of an inquiry that aimed to explore the pre-existing inequalities facing people from ethnic minorities and how these inequalities have impacted on their vulnerability to the virus. It makes a series of recommendations to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on ethnic minority groups.

To find out more about the Women and Equalities Committee click here.

Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2020

Health trends and variation in England

Source: The King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

After a brief section on the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in England, the main report consists of a collection of charts that present a broad and high-level overview of the nation’s health across a range of health outcomes and public health indicators. A key theme is the variation in health that exists across different dimensions: over geographies, over time, and between groups of people.

To find out more click here.