Tag: NHS

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-Top News COVID-19 UK News

Govt may ask NHS workers to take vaccine against Covid-19

“There is precedent for this. Obviously, surgeons get vaccinated for hepatitis B, so it is something that we are absolutely thinking about.”…reports Asian Lite News.

The government may require National Health Service workers to be inoculated against COVID-19 — a contentious proposal that was immediately criticised by opposition leaders as counterproductive.

Vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, told Sky News on Sunday that officials were considering the move in hopes of preventing medical workers from spreading COVID-19 to their patients. The government has already asked the public to comment on a similar requirement for care home employees.

“It’s absolutely the right thing and would be incumbent on any responsible government to have the debate, to do the thinking as to how we go about protecting the most vulnerable by making sure that those who look after them are vaccinated,” Zahawi said.

“There is precedent for this. Obviously, surgeons get vaccinated for hepatitis B, so it is something that we are absolutely thinking about.”

Authorities are scrambling to protect their plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on June 21, allowing people to enjoy their summer holidays, amid concern about a fast-spreading variant that was first discovered in India. New infections and coronavirus-related deaths have risen over the past week, though the current figures are still a fraction of the levels reported during the January peak.

Mayor Sadiq Khan during a visit at the new vaccine hub at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury. (Photo: Mayor of London)

While Britain has Europe’s highest coronavirus death toll, at over 128,000 people, public health officials say the situation has improved since last winter because of the rapid rollout of vaccines. More than 74% of British adults have received at least one dose of vaccine.

The opposition Labour Party was quick to condemn the proposal for compulsory vaccinations, saying it would be better to work with staff to address their concerns than to force them to get the shot.

“Given we have got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS, I think it’s far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them,” said lawmaker Thangam Debbonaire, a party spokesperson on such issues. “Threatening staff, I don’t think, is a good idea.”

ALSO READ-UK approves single-dose J&J Covid vaccine

READ MORE-France imposes quarantine on UK visitors

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-Top News Columns UK News

SPECIAL: Matt Hancock Must Go

If Matt Hancock was a doctor, he’d be facing the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Fitness to Practice panel for his incompetence and lies. He is not fit to be a practice manager of a GP surgery, let alone a health secretary. He should be sacked immediately …… writes Dr Kailash Chand

I agree with DC!  Who can disagree with Boris Johnson’s Man Friday Dominic Cummings when he asked for Health Secretary Matt Hancock to be sacked for “criminal” behaviour and consistent lies?

I have watched more than a dozen health secretaries since I came to UK in 1978, and I have never encountered a health secretary who is incompetent, lies so regularly, so shamelessly and as systemically as, Matt Hancock.

The department of health was a “smoking ruin” in the early days of the COVID pandemic, and remains in shambles.

The government’s procurement system before 2020 was an “expensive disaster zone” and when the coronavirus pandemic hit, it “completely fell over.” He claimed putting s shields around ‘CARE HOMES ‘quite the opposite he did, he sent the people with covid back to care homes to die. Throughout this pandemic, Matt Hancock consistently exhibited that he prioritises the interests of private companies’ profits over public health. That’s why he handed billions of pounds of contracts to Tory party donners and his mates in the private sector rather than invested properly in our NHS and local public health teams.

DR KAILASH CHAND: I have watched more than a dozen health secretaries since I came to the UK in 1978, and I have never encountered a health secretary who is incompetent, lies so regularly, so shamelessly and as systemically as, Matt Hancock. The department of health was a “smoking ruin” in the early days of the COVID pandemic, and remains in shambles

I have watched more than a dozen health secretaries since I came to UK in 1978, and I have never encountered a health secretary who is incompetent, lies so regularly, so shamelessly and as systemically as, Matt Hancock.

The department of health was a “smoking ruin” in the early days of the COVID pandemic, and remains in shambles

Matt Hancock’s track record is plain for all to see. An NHS on its knees, broken, flailing, over 128,000 died, including over 900 health workers in the pandemic and now patients suffering in their millions on waiting lists.

He has managed to insult and alienate NHS staff across the board. Including GPs and consultants, who are considering retiring early is staggeringly high and is a huge worry for the NHS and patient care. The health service could be left with a shortage of clinicians, with the remaining doctors spread too thinly. This has huge implications for recruitment and retention for the medical profession. We will have fewer staff in an even less safe NHS coping with post covid illness.

If Matt Hancock was a doctor, he’d be facing the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Fitness to Practice panel for his incompetence and lies. He is not fit to be a practice manager of a GP surgery, let alone a health secretary. He should be sacked immediately.

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UK News

BAPIO to provide telemedicine for Covid patients in India

BIDA has joined hands with the Oxygen for India appeal by British Asian Trust, recently backed by Prince Charles, to crowdfund through Just Giving towards the cause and raised 35,000 pounds within days…reports Asian Lite News

Indian-origin doctors in the UK on Sunday said they are in the process of rapidly expanding their telemedicine project through collaborations with Indian hospitals as part of a wider COVID India Appeal.

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) has raised nearly 108,000 pounds within days of setting up a Go Fund Me online appeal and said the initial amount of released funds are making their way to India to help provide immediate assistance such a food supplies for the needy through the Akhshaya Patra charity, with procurement of equipment next in line.

Meanwhile, the BAPIO Telemedicine project has received support and clarification from the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) and has already started teleconsulting with hospitals in Nagpur, with expansion plans in the next few days.

“The effort is aimed at offering help to our exhausted and over-stretched colleagues in India,” said BAPIO Secretary Dr Parag Singhal.

“The telemedicine virtual hub project is going very well. We have hundreds of volunteers who have expressed their support for this and the aim is to get 1,000 doctors on board to help across three fronts – reporting on CT scans, help for less serious cases through virtual ward rounds, and help for patients in a home setting,” he explained.

BAPIO is working in collaboration with Doctors Association UK (DAUK), Apna NHS and Akshaya Patra with a target to raise around 500,000 pounds towards the telemedicine and advice helplines as well as acquiring and coordinating the distribution of vital oxygen generating and distribution equipment for hospitals and healthcare facilities in India and providing free food to all in need.

The association said it will be working closely with the High Commission of India in London and various National Health Service (NHS) organisations to ensure a wide reach of its efforts.

 “We are pleased to say that we now have support from the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Pathologists and the British Indian Nurses Association amongst many others and are making very good progress towards our goal,” BAPIO said in its update on the fundraising efforts.

The British International Doctors Association (BIDA), which also includes many Indian-origin doctors and medics, are also taking part in the virtual telemedicine efforts to help ease the burden on doctors and healthcare professionals coping with India’s massive surge of coronavirus cases.

BIDA has joined hands with the Oxygen for India appeal by British Asian Trust, recently backed by Prince Charles, to crowdfund through Just Giving towards the cause and raised 35,000 pounds within days.

“Every member knows somebody who has died. In my own family my mum had COVID-19 a week ago – luckily she pulled through. Now my sister and my brother-in-law are also struggling with it,” Dr Chandra Kanneganti, Indian-origin general practitioner and BIDA chair, told ‘GP Online’.

“We are very lucky to have the NHS [National Health Service], and people recognise that when you hear stories from other countries that don’t have enough oxygen supplies, medicines or ventilators,” he said.

Also Read-UK considers abolishing quarantine for Covid contact

Read More-Boris, Modi to hold virtual summit

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Community Lite Blogs London News

Tropical Sun Fuels Ray of Hope

After seeing a video of people queuing for food, Wanis International, one of the UK’s leading imports and Distributors of World Food and Drink, wanted to support the effort of feeding those in need. They are supporting London Community Kitchen at Harrow and NHS’s Heart-To-Heart and organ donation campaign … reports Asian Lite News

Tropical Sun is shining a ray of hope for the community. The brand, along with its parent company Wanis International Foods, is doing its part to give back to the community. They have taken initiatives that will help make lives better for those in need by supporting London Community Kitchen (LCK) and the NHS. 

Wanis International supports community initiatives

After seeing a video of people queuing for food, Wanis International wanted to support the effort of feeding those in need. It did so by shining a ray of Tropical Sun at the Brent Indian Association event on Ealing Road. The brand donated large quantities of food including basmati rice, curry powder, coconut milk powder, lentils, chickpeas, tea and much more to help those in need gain access to nutritious meals.

The London Community Kitchen based in Harrow provides food for over 5000 people on a weekly basis through markets and food parcels, and The Brent Indian Association benevolently allows LCK to run its food market every Saturday on its premises.

At the Brent Indian Association, Wanis International Foods was greeted by Hitenbhai, the Chair of Brent Indian Association, Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi, Mayor of Brent, Councillor Butt, the Leader of Council, and Satesh Melwani, who is the Business Development Manager at Wanis International Foods, along with Manish Tiwari, Managing Director of Here and Now 365, and Sanjay Mehta, Wembley Lion and BIA Committee Member, who all helped organise the successful event.

“Wanis International Foods, spanning 57 years in business, is one of the UK’s leading imports and Distributors of World Food and Drink. We are proud to be supporting the London Community Kitchen in support of the community.” States, Satesh Melwani, Business Development Manager at Wanis International Foods.

To continue the good work, Tropical Sun has also teamed up with the NHS for the Heart-to-Heart campaign which officially launched on the 23rd of March to encourage life-saving conversations around blood and organ donation. The campaign aims to reach people in the kitchen, the heart of the home.

Wanis International supports community initiatives

Tropical Sun has given the NHS valuable space on their Rice and Jackfruit packs. In addition to this, they are also running a video campaign featuring popular influencers like fitness guru, Mr. Motivator and Nina Wadia, a popular actress who stars in EastEnders and Goodness Gracious Me. The Heart-to-Heart campaign aims to encourage the spirit of benevolence in the community and support the NHS. 

It is up to all of us to do our part to help out, so join and support the NHS. For those who would like to help out, you can sign up to donate blood at Blood.co.uk and join the organ donation registry at OrganDonation.NHS.UK.