Category: Public Health

Covid 19

Current awareness updates

Inequalities in healthcare disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic: Evidence from 12 UK population-based longitudinal studies.
medRxiv; 2021.

[The research, led by UCL and the University of Glasgow, found further evidence that minority ethnic groups were more likely to have their healthcare affected by the Covid crisis than white people, with the combined results of the 12 studies suggesting minority ethnic groups reported 19% more problems during the epidemic. This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review.]

An obesity strategy to reduce COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.
Glasper A. British Journal of Nursing 2021;30(10):612-614.

[In 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched a series of policy initiatives as part of his government’s new obesity strategy. The prime minster himself was admitted to an intensive care unit after being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and succumbing to COVID-19. Following his successful treatment and discharge from hospital he acknowledged that his deterioration was probably linked to his own excess body weight.]

Importance of patient bed pathways and length of stay differences in predicting COVID-19 hospital bed occupancy in England.[Abstract]
Leclerc QJ. BMC Health Services Research 2021;21(1):566.

[We identified five bed pathways, with substantial variation in LoS by bed type, pathway, and geography. This might be caused by local differences in patient characteristics, clinical care strategies, or resource availability, and suggests that national LoS averages may not be appropriate for local forecasts of bed occupancy for COVID-19.]

Delivering routine immunisations in London during the Covid-19 pandemic: lessons for future vaccine delivery.
Skirrow H. British Journal of General Practice Open 2021;(18 May)

[Mixed-methods study of immunisation delivery in London including an online survey of GP practices and interviews were used to explore new immunisation delivery models which built on existing local knowledge, experiences and networks.]

Strategies and action points to ensure equitable uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations: A national qualitative interview study to explore the views of undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
Deal A. Journal of Migration and Health 2021;4(-):100050.

[Report of in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews (n=32) of recently arrived migrants (foreign-born, >18 years old; <10 years in the UK) to the UK with precarious immigration status, seeking their input into strategies to strengthen COVID-19 vaccine delivery and uptake.]

Community-based volunteering in response to COVID-19: the COV-VOL project.
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, Kent, Surrey and Sussex; 2021.

[A study by a team from the University of Kent, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Sussex University shows how voluntary community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations have made a significant, positive impact on the well-being of older people self-isolating at home during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of volunteers and community and the role VCSE organisations can play as key and essential partners in our health and social care systems.]

The 3 R’s of Social Care Reform: How constructive risk taking, respectful relationships and a sense of reciprocity characterised a positive response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Think Local Act Personal; 2021.

[TLAP has been talking to people across social care, and including those who draw on care and support, about their experiences during the pandemic. This paper reflects on these conversations and identifies drivers of the promising examples of practice, marked by changes in behaviour and increased levels of trust. It suggests that positive risk-taking, respectful relationships and a sense of reciprocity are key ingredients in characterising a positive response to the pandemic.]

Unlocking the digital front door – keys to inclusive healthcare.
National Voices; 2021.

[This report explores how the move to remote service models impacted people and how the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) has led innovative ways to deliver healthcare and support to people during the COVID 19 pandemic. Also available is a literature review and insight data, personal narratives and recommendations for better practice, better policy, and better innovations.]

School closures and parents’ mental health.
Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER); 2021.

[In this study, researchers from the universities of Essex, Surrey and Birmingham, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, consider the dynamics of parents’ mental health during the pandemic. The study is the first of its kind to look specifically at the impact of having children at home as a result of school closures, separating it from other factors affecting parents’ mental health during the pandemic.]

Outsourcing as a threat to public health: the case for insourcing public sector cleaners and facilities management.
New Economics Foundation; 2021.

[The evidence cited in this report suggests that outsourced health facilities management services pose a threat to public health. This represents a major weakness in the UK’s ability to cope with subsequent waves of Covid-19. As a matter of public health, this paper recommends that the government should launch an urgent and independent inquiry into the outsourcing of key workers.]

Targeted AF detection in COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT), Oxford AHSN; 2021.

[This document brings together learning from several pilot sites which have been carrying out targeted detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in COVID-19 vaccination clinics. The aim is to provide guidance for systems wishing to develop a standard operating procedure for offering targeted rhythm checks for AF detection in mass vaccination clinics.]

Coronavirus and vaccination rates in people aged 70 years and over by socio-demographic characteristic, England : 8 December 2020 to 9 May 202.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

[Difference in vaccination rates by sociodemographic group, sex, ethnicity, religion, main language, living in areas of deprivation, and disability.]


Case Studies

The role of volunteering in community-centred public health system – case studies with NCVO

In 2020, PHE’s healthy communities team partnered with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) to develop a number of case studies that reflect the role of volunteering in community-centred public health systems. This is part of PHE’s work on whole system approaches to community-centred public health, as well as NCVO’s workplan as a member of the VCSE Health & Wellbeing Alliance.

Through this work, NCVO have pulled together six case studies, that reflect a range of public health themes and volunteering approaches. They also reflect work from a range of settings, from rural Cumbria to large cities such as Birmingham and Sheffield.

For more information click here.

Lunch and Learn

Long Covid

Thank-you to everyone who attended our lunch and learn session yesterday. Our guest speakers, Jane Beenstock, Alison Pye and Cath Taylor from the Public Health team, have been following the development and research relating to Long Covid and they gave us a very interesting insight into what Long Covid is and what the research around this topic is telling us.

If you missed the session, you can catch up here (please use your LSCFT email to access.)

We would really appreciate any feedback on these sessions. If you have a few spare minutes we kindly ask you to complete our survey- which should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete: https://www.surveymonkey.com

Our next session will be held in June and will focus on Strategy Development . We hope to see as many of you there. Please contact carmel.smith@lscft.nhs.uk if you would like an invite to this session.

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Care homes: visiting restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic House of Commons; 2021

(This report calls on the government to make the existing requirements for individualised assessment for visits mandatory by laying its draft regulations, as soon as possible. Government guidance now makes clear that care home providers should not impose blanket bans on visiting but should instead conduct individualised risk assessments for each resident. However, without statutory force, there is no legal recourse for residents to require their providers to implement the guidance.)

Racism and discrimination: the experience of primary care professionals in the Humberside region Humberside LMC: April 2021

(This report highlights discrimination faced by staff and patients from ethnic minority backgrounds in general practice. It finds that respondents reported experiences of discrimination in a wide range of areas such as training, working patterns and complaints, and it calls for a zero-tolerance approach to tackle racism in all its forms. )

Pandemic patient experience II: from lockdown to vaccine roll-out The Patient’s Association; April 2021

(In 2020, patients told the Patients Association about their experiences of living with health and care needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their testimony painted a bleak picture in many ways. This follow-up survey (drawing on 453 responses, submitted over February, March and early April 2021) finds that many aspects of their experiences are not much better, and some are worse. Accessing general practice services remains difficult for many, and patients overall do not regard remote consultations as an adequate replacement for in-person appointments.)

Outpatient appointments intended but not booked after inpatient stays Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB); April 2021

(This investigation explores the patient safety risk of outpatient appointments that are intended but not booked following an inpatient stay. It also considers opportunities for building resilience into the process to ensure timely appointments. It concludes with two safety recommendations that are aimed at reducing the chance that patients will be lost after an inpatient stay and supporting the staff within trusts who are responsible for arranging appointments and tracking patients.)

Unemployment and mental health The Health Foundation; April 2021

(This analysis estimates that an increase of 900,000 people in unemployment expected by the end of the year, compared with before the pandemic, will lead to 200,000 more people with poor mental health in the UK. It acknowledges that while government action to reduce a rise in unemployment by extending the furlough scheme to September will support mental health, it suggests that the benefits system and employment support programmes currently fail to properly account for the mental health needs of those who are unemployed. It concludes that there is now an opportunity to ensure that efforts to tackle unemployment in the pandemic recovery are designed to better support mental health.)

Skin cancer awareness month toolkit Skin Cancer Foundation; May 2021

(A social media toolkit giving you downloadable skin cancer images and resources to help you share the facts during Skin Cancer Awareness Month)

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

COVID-19: long-term health effects.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Information and guidance on persistent health problems reported following acute COVID-19 disease. There is accumulating evidence to suggest that cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) who have experienced both mild and severe symptoms can experience long-term health effects. This document provides information on the health problems reported in COVID-19 cases following acute disease, and guidance for healthcare professionals on how to advise recovering COVID-19 patients.)

COVID-19 in schools: study shows drop in infections Public Health England (PHE); 2021

(Round 4 of the Schools Infection Survey (SIS) shows a significant drop in the number of secondary school pupils and staff testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).)

Women’s Health Strategy: Call for Evidence.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.

(DHSC are seeking your views to help inform the development of the government’s Women’s Health Strategy. The easiest way to participate in the call for evidence as an individual is by completing the public survey. They also welcome written submissions from individuals or organisations who have expertise in women’s health, such as researchers and third-sector organisations. Written submissions can include the contribution of data, research and other reports of relevance to women’s health.)

Teachers’ concerns about pupils’ mental health in a cross-sectional survey of a population sample of British schoolchildren.[Abstract]
Mathews F. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2021;26(2):99-105.

(Understanding how well a teacher concern predicts mental disorder in a child or young person is important for mental health teams who need to respond to referrals. CONCLUSION: While teacher concern does identify those with poorer mental health, it is only moderately predictive of a disorder. When concerned about a child or young person, discussions with parents or others who know them may help teachers identify those who most need support.)

The relationship between alcohol-related hospital admission and specialist alcohol treatment provision across local authorities in England since passage of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
British Journal of Psychiatry 2021;:https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2020.120.


(The results suggest that the local authority areas in England most in need of adequately funded specialist alcohol treatment are not receiving targeted increased funding, and that the national rise in alcohol-related hospital admissions may be fuelled by local authority funding cuts to specialist alcohol treatment.)

Please contact: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk for any support accessing articles.

Lunch and Learn – May Reminder

Post (long) COVID: a lasting legacy or a passing phase?

This is just a reminder that the next Lunch and Learn session will be held via Teams on Thursday 20th May between 12pm and 1pm.

This session will discuss:

  • An overview of long-COVID
  • Current evidence on what it is, who it affects and how it affects people
  • The implications of long-COVID on health services and wider society

Teams invites have been sent to all our Library registered users. If you would like an invite to be extended to you or your team please email: carmel.smith@lscft.nhs.uk