Covid 19

Current awareness updates

Designated settings for people discharged to a care home.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2022.
[Guidance on the designated settings scheme for people discharged from hospital to a care home with a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test (UPDATED: 07 February 2022 The ‘designated settings’ guidance has been updated throughout in line with the latest clinical advice from UKHSA. This update reflects the change in isolation period in care settings from 14 to 10 days for cases of COVID-19. It also provides information on how individuals can end their isolation before day 10)]

Patient experience before the omicron wave: the storm before the storm.
Patients Association; 2022.
[This report, based on a survey of more than 1,000 UK patients conducted over a month just before Christmas 2021, finds the disruption to health and care services caused by the pandemic is profound and long-term.]

COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey, England: attitudes to vaccines and preventative measures, November to December 2021.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2022.
[Initial insights from the first round of questionnaire data collected as part of the Schools Infection Survey. Questionnaires are completed by parents of participating children, secondary school aged children and headteachers. Topics cover vaccine sentiment, ventilation in schools and preventative measures implemented in schools.]

Public Health

Current awareness updates

Campaigning to eliminate drink spiking.
Stamp Out Spiking UK; 2022.
[This campaign offers anti-drink spiking resources and solutions that help people to stay safe, with a mission to raise awareness and promote personal safety issues, by providing people with information and a practical means of protecting themselves, and ultimately, to stamp out drink spiking.]

Delivering safe, face-to-face adult day care.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE); 2022.
[Supporting care managers, social workers, commissioners and providers, with activities. The latest updates to the guidance include: Infection control and testing; vaccination information; and changes to restrictions due to Omicron.]

Recent increase in group B meningococcal disease among teenagers and young adults.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2022.
[Teenagers and young adults are urged to look out for symptoms and check that they have received all routine vaccinations. Recent data and analysis shows that in autumn 2021 there was an increase in the number of cases of meningococcal disease in teenagers and young adults, mainly caused by group B meningococcal disease (MenB) – with the majority among university students.]

Focusing on men’s health: it’s time for a national strategy.
Baker P. British Journal of Nursing 2022;31(1):50-51.
[It is surely time for a men’s health strategy in the UK. Or, rather, a strategy for each of the UK’s nations. Seven other countries—including our nearest neighbour, Ireland—already have men’s health strategies or policies. The UK Government has also signed up to World Health Organization (WHO) Europe’s regional men’s health strategy (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2018). A Women’s Health Plan for Scotland was published in August and a women’s health strategy for England is being developed.]

Stop Abuse Together.
Cabinet Office; 2022.
[Tool to help parents, carers, teachers or other professionals working with children, to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support. This website brings together advice and resources to help you keep the children in your life safe.]