Category: Current Awareness

Evidence Updates

Keeping up to date with current awareness

Update on COVID-19 pandemic.
BMJ Best Practice; 2020.

Cycling to work lowers risk of illness and death compared to driving.
NIHR Evidence; 2020.
[People who cycle to work are at lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and death than those who drive. This is seen across all occupational groups and suggests that cycling to work could benefit people from all economic backgrounds. If fewer people are able to travel by public transport due to social distancing, measures to make cycling easier and safer could improve the nation’s health.]

Rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2020.
[This guideline covers mental health rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis. It aims to ensure people can have rehabilitation when they need it and promotes a positive approach to long-term recovery. It includes recommendations on organising rehabilitation services, assessment and care planning, delivering programmes and interventions, and meeting people’s physical healthcare needs.]

Face-to-face or remote consultations: supporting you to make safe decisions about patient contact.
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; 2020.
[Guidance and advice on implementation from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.This framework provides you with a pathway to interpret national guidance and adhere to the legal, regulatory and professional requirements that govern safe physiotherapy practice.]

Daily Insight: Inspectors or superspreaders?
Health Services Journal (HSJ); 2020.
[Latest stories and debate in health policy and leadership. The decision not to include CQC inspectors in regular asymptomatic covid testing could turn them into “super-spreaders,” unions have warned. The Infection and Prevention Society, however, has said inspectors are not likely to be put at significant risk.]

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Evidence updates

Recommendations for continued care and support of people who are clinically extremely vulnerable
Royal College of Physicians (RCP); 2020.
(Statement from the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, National Voices and specialist societies highlighting the challenges faced by both doctors and patients in identifying and reducing the risks associated with COVID-19 for the most clinically vulnerable people.)

Expanding the primary care workforce in 2020/21 .
NHS England & NHS Improvement; 2020.
(Actions for CCGs, PCNs and STPs resulting from People Plan and Third phase of NHS response to covid-19.)

Reintroduction of NHS continuing healthcare.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2020.
(Sets out how clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will restart NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) assessment processes from 1 September 2020.Published 21 August 2020.)

Virtual training for midwives during a pandemic.
Abramson P. British Journal of Midwifery 2020;28(8):502–503.
(When a baby dies, it is a tragedy at any time but during the COVID-19 pandemic, bereaved families and the professionals supporting them have been faced with additional and often distressing challenges. Restrictions have made access to hospitals difficult for partners and other family members, while support services that would normally be provided for bereaved parents have been unavailable or severely limited.)

Ketamine as a mental health treatment: Are acute psychoactive effects associated with outcomes? A systematic review.
Grabski M. Behavioural Brain Research 2020;392:112629.
(The databases Medline, Embase and PsycInfo were searched. The studies reviewed displayed great variability in methodology and quality of reporting. The most commonly assessed effect was dissociation, measured by the CADSS. Our results suggest that the CADSS total is not consistently associated with antidepressant outcomes. Apart from this, the current literature is too limited to draw definite conclusions on an association between acute psychoactive effects and mental health outcomes.)


Face masks and dry eyes

The science and the solutions

With face masks becoming compulsory throughout the pandemic, most of us will be wearing face masks for extended periods of time. While they help to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, there has also been a rise of reports of dry, uncomfortable eyes, otherwise known as mask-associated dry eye (MADE).

MADE is caused by an ongoing imbalance in the tear film resulting in eyes feeling sore, dry and irritated, looking red, watering eyes or lead to dry eye disease. Face masks cause repeated evaporation, as the exhaled air will travel upwards to our eyes.

To prevent this from happening:

  • wear your mask appropriately
  • use lubricating drops
  • limit time in air conditioned rooms or windy conditions
  • take regular breaks from digital devices
  • DON’T rub your eyes if they become itchy

Masks will be here for the foreseeable future therefore we need to remain alert and promote good mask wear if we are to overcome this pandemic. To find out more or have your say click here.

Returning to school after lockdown

Top tips for parents

With many children going back to school, there may be mixed emotions and feelings from different family members. The Mental Health Foundation have some practical advice to make the transition from home to school as smooth as possible. Their top tips include:

  • Talking – talk about their worries/concerns about going back to school
  • Get your children into a good sleep routine
  • Talk about the daily routines of school life
  • Develop coping strategies including breathing exercises, seeing friends or exercise
  • Make yourself available as much as possible, even simple things like going for a walk or baking may allow your child opportunities to talk rather than asking them directly
  • Be positive and discuss all the good things that are happening

For more details or resources to use at home click here.

NHS Reset

A campaign to shape what the health and care system could look life post COVID

Mental health services have faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. They quickly and effectively moved to different ways of working to protect service users and staff. As we move to the next phase of the pandemic, we expect demand for mental health support to increase and to remain high for some time. This will have serious implications on resourcing and staff wellbeing.

This report from the NHS Reset campaign considers what mental health services need to prepare for, for the expected surge in demand. It also highlights how the health and care system can ‘reset’ the way care and support are planned and delivered in aftermath of COVID-19.

To find out more about the campaign click here.

Top tips for travelling safely in the UK

With ‘staycations’ becoming the new vacations, follow these top tips for your safety

UK Gov have highlighted 5 top tips for getting out and about in the UK:

  1. Know before you go – check whether the places you are visiting have any additional measure in place
  2. Follow advice on social distancing – keep your distance from people not in your household (2m if you can), avoid crowded places and try to avoid travelling on public transport at peak times
  3. Wash your hands regularly – take hand sanitiser with you in no washing facilities are available
  4. Check guidance on face coverings – ensure you travel with one and know where you will need to wear this
  5. Enjoy green spaces – remember to follow the Countryside Code

For more information click here.

Exercise to your ability NOT your age

Don’t let age be a factor when determining what exercise you do

We all know exercise is good for us but research has shown that exercise in older adults is linked to lower disease risk, reduced risks of falls and better overall health. Our bodies change as we age, but this shouldn’t change our attitudes towards exercise. We simply need to choose the type of exercise that is suitable for our ability. Whether it’s low intensity activities (walking, jogging, cycling), HITT (high intensity interval training) or resistance training- don’t let age be a limiting factor.

Exercise is also shown to improve mental health, well being, cognitive function and improve life expectancy. We should all aim to be physically active daily and get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week . Simple things like reducing the amount of time sitting or lying down can make a difference.

So not matter your age- let your ability be the factor that determines your physical health.

To read more about this topic click here.

The dangers of heatwaves

Heatwaves – a double ended sword

Although we have all been enjoying the glorious sunshine, the rise in temperature not only causes sun burn to your skin, but it can also harm our mental health.

Hotter temperatures increase the level of the stress hormone- cortisol and there’s also evidence that our bodies produce more adrenaline and testosterone in warmer temperatures, which can make people more aggressive and make violent behaviour more likely.

Those with dementia or other serious mental illnesses are also more at risk due to their limited ability of elf care. Certain psychiatric medications can also inhibit temperature regulation, making dangerous heatstroke more likely.

So remember, if the temperatures continue to rise, try to make the time to reach out to the vulnerable and ill and… keep yourself cool!

To find out more or have your say click here.