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What's New in Social Care and Healthcare this Week? (08/01/24)
Happy New Year to all our readers! It's a new year, so it's time for 2024's first news roundup of all the latest health and social care news. In today's collection, we'll explore the social workers honoured in the New Year's Honours list, what the newly issued amber cold health alert means for public health, the exciting discovery of a new antibiotic, and more.
1. Social Workers Honoured in New Year's List
Though controversial at times due to its highly politicised nature, the New Year's Honours list remains a chance to champion some of the nation's most hard-working and deserving people. This year, Kirstie Baughan was awarded the British Empire Medal, and Shabnam Ahmed was awarded an MBE, both for their contributions to social care.
Baughan, a former recipient of the Social Worker of the Year Award (2022), was recognised for her work in supporting asylum seekers and refugees, while Ahmed, Camden council's adult safeguarding lead, was recognised for her anti-racism work in adult social work. Congratulations, both!
2. Amber Cold Health Alert (CHA)
A new cold snap has hit parts of the country, resulting in the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing an amber cold health alert (CHA). Affecting various areas, including parts of the Midlands and the southwest, the alert, which means that the impacts of cold weather will likely be felt across the whole health service for "an extended period of time", is set to end on Friday, January 12.
Other regions of the UK, such as the east, south-east and London, have remained at a yellow level CHA – meaning that the weather conditions may impact vulnerable populations (the over-65s, for instance).
3. Exciting New Antibiotic Discovered
The threat of so-called antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' has been the talk of the scientific town over the last decade or so, with an increasing number of disease-inducing bacteria becoming resistant to existing antibiotics, making them much more challenging to treat effectively (if at all). However, a new compound has been discovered that works extremely well in combatting certain lethal infections.
The new chemical compound, called zosurabalpin, has shown incredibly promising results in tackling infections caused by the Acinetobacter baumannii bacterium. Infections can be generated throughout the body, including in the lungs, urinary tract and the blood. It is hazardous in acute medical settings like hospitals.
With a lethality of between 40% and 60%, it's critical that new antibiotics (like zosurabalpin) are found that the bacteria aren't resistant to. There's still a long road before this antibiotic gets approved for widespread use. However, the initial signs are immensely promising.
4. Junior Doctors Striking
At the time of writing, a six-day full walkout of junior doctors is in full swing. The strikes, called for by the British Medical Association (BMA), are being carried out to achieve a complete pay restoration to "reverse the steep decline in pay faced by junior doctors since 2008/2009".
The strike is the longest in NHS history, and many NHS trusts have asked that the BMA recall the striking doctors from the picket line to handle worsening situations in hospitals, with several trusts having reported critical incidents.
Although the strikes end on Tuesday, January 9, future industrial action cannot be ruled out (with both consultants in England and junior doctors in Northern Ireland being balloted and junior doctor strikes lined up in Wales later this month).
5. Another Council Close to Bankruptcy
Bradford Council is perilously close to becoming the next local council to issue a Section 114 notice unless it receives a much-needed emergency cash injection from the government.
It's estimated that Bradford's council will overspend by £73 million for the current financial year. The cause of the economic issues is being cited as two-fold: firstly, increasingly expensive adult and children's social care, and secondly, cuts made by the government.
If the Section 114 notice is issued, the local authority will have to dispose of various assets as part of a saving plan, including the closure of an outdoor activity centre and household waste centres, with over 100 jobs thought to be on the line.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, then – your first weekly news roundup of 2024. We hope you found it informative, and we'll see you this time next week! Whilst you're here, why not check out one of our thousands of jobs on offer?
