Daily publication of Covid-19 admissions and bed occupancy data – NHS England
This file contains Covid data on measures of hospital admissions and the number of beds occupied by Covid patients and the number of MV beds (beds capable of supporting mechanical ventilation) occupied by Covid patients. It provides regional and national level information from 1st August up to the latest day.
Daily Admissions and Beds 19 January 2021 (XLSX, 162KB)

20 Jan update: covid trends cleave nation in two – Health Service Journal
The changing dynamics of the corornavirus pandemic have created two distinct scenarios in different parts of the country. The first in London, south east and east where the third wave began and the second elsewhere.

Theft of vaccine packaging is ‘significant security risk’, NHS warns – Health Service Journal
Covid vaccination teams have been warned theft of the packaging used to store the doses poses a “significant security risk” so it must be destroyed appropriately after use.

Covid Daily Insight: Will the new guidance work for cancer patients? – Health Service Journal
HSJ’s daily update of what our sources are telling us about the progress of the pandemic

Exclusive: First two trusts lined up to deliver 24/7 covid jabs – Health Service Journal
Two hospital trusts in the Midlands are being lined up to pilot a 24-hour covid vaccine service, HSJ has learned.

Principles for COVID-19 Vaccination in Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology for Clinicians, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) 
All patients should be encouraged to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines. This is regardless of their treatment regimen or underlying diagnosis. The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks and by having the vaccine, this will reduce the risk of developing severe complications due to COVID-19.

Ethnicity and outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection in East London: an observational cohort study – BMJ Open 
After adjustment for age and sex, study (n=1737; 29% mortality by day 30), found that patients from Asian (HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.86); p<0.001) and black (1.30; 1.02 to 1.65; p=0.036) backgrounds were more likely to die or be admitted to ICU and receive invasive ventilation.

Staffing models for long-distance and inter-regional transfer services, Intensive Care Society/Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine/Association of Anaesthetists/Royal College of Anaesthetists 
Statement from the Intensive Care Society (ICS), Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM), Association of Anaesthetists and Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) on staffing models for long-distance and inter- regional transfer services. The ICS, FICM, Association and RCoA support the criteria listed that outline the minimum skills, knowledge and experience required of the transfer team members who would conduct inter- regional or long-distance transfer of Level 3 (intensive care) patients.

NHS Discharge Medicines Service – essential service: toolkit for pharmacy staff in community, primary and secondary care – NHS England 
This toolkit supports cross-sector implementation of the NHS Discharge Medicines Service as an essential service in all NHS community pharmacies in England.

BMJ Editorial: Vaccinating against covid-19 in people who report allergies, BMJ
Polyethylene glycol (PEG 2000) in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is a known potential allergen. Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine does not contain PEG2000 but does have polysorbate 80 which may be cross-reactive therefore evaluation by an allergy specialist may be required.

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