A further update from Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Mike Coupe:
We are continuing to work around the clock to feed the nation in these challenging times.
Many of you have written to me in the past 24 hours to tell me that you like the idea of priority shopping for NHS workers and for elderly and disabled customers, but that these should be at different times.
We have therefore decided to allow NHS and social care workers to shop in our supermarkets for half an hour before they open each day. So anyone with NHS ID will be able to shop from 07.30-08.00 every day from Monday to Saturday.
We’re delighted to be able to offer priority shopping to all the hard-working NHS staff across the country who are working so hard to keep us all safe and well.
In addition to this, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all our supermarkets will dedicate 08.00-09.00 to serving elderly customers, disabled customers and carers.
Many of you have also asked me about priority online delivery slots for elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers.
We have been able to identify a number of customers as elderly and vulnerable based on the information they have given us previously. These details would include date of birth and if you have ever used our vulnerable customer helpline. For all of these customers, we will email you today (Sunday) with information on when slots will become available.
If you do not receive an email and you consider yourself to be vulnerable, please visit our Groceries Online website on Monday for information on how to contact us.
We are also working as quickly as possible on an option for people to register themselves as disabled and vulnerable on their online shopping accounts.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch with me and share your feedback – it’s because of you that we are making these changes and we will continue to listen, learn and adapt during this uncertain time.
This guidance is for everyone. It advises on social distancing measures we should all be taking to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
It is intended for use in situations where people are living in their own homes, with or without additional support from friends, family and carers. If you live in a residential care setting guidance is available.
We are advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.
This group includes those who are:
aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
those who are pregnant
Note: there are some clinical conditions which put people at even higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. If you are in this category, next week the NHS in England will directly contact you with advice the more stringent measures you should take in order to keep yourself and others safe. For now, you should rigorously follow the social distancing advice in full, outlined below.
People falling into this group are those who may be at particular risk due to complex health problems such as:
people who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
people with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets)
people with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis)
What is social distancing?
Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce the social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
They are:
Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour, when possible
Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is pragmatic.
We strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible, particularly if you:
are over 70
have an underlying health condition
are pregnant
This advice is likely to be in place for some weeks.
Handwashing and respiratory hygiene
There are general principles you can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
washing your hands more often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser when you get home or into work, when you blow your nose, sneeze or cough, eat or handle food
avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who have symptoms
cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin and wash your hands
clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home
What should you do if you develop symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)
The same guidance applies to the general population and those at increased risk of severe illness form coronavirus (COVID-19). If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 (high temperature and/or new and continuous cough), self-isolate at home for 7 days. You can find the full guidance at stay at home.
How can I get assistance with foods and medicines if I am reducing my social contacts?
Ask family, friends and neighbours to support you and use online services. If this is not possible, then the public sector, business, charities, and the general public are gearing up to help those advised to stay at home. It is important to speak to others and ask them to help you to make arrangements for the delivery of food, medicines and essential services and supplies, and look after your physical and mental health and wellbeing.
If you receive support from health and social care organisations, for example, if you have care provided for you through the local authority or health care system, this will continue as normal. Your health or social care provider will be asked to take additional precautions to make sure that you are protected. The advice for formal carers is included in the Home care provision.
What should you do if you have hospital and GP appointments during this period?
We advise everyone to access medical assistance remotely, wherever possible. However, if you have a scheduled hospital or other medical appointment during this period, talk to your GP or clinician to ensure you continue to receive the care you need and consider whether appointments can be postponed.
What is the advice for visitors including those who are providing care for you?
You should contact your regular social visitors such as friends and family to let them know that you are reducing social contacts and that they should not visit you during this time unless they are providing essential care for you. Essential care includes things like help with washing, dressing, or preparing meals.
If you receive regular health or social care from an organisation, either through your local authority or paid for by yourself, inform your care providers that you are reducing social contacts and agree on a plan for continuing your care.
If you receive essential care from friends or family members, speak to your carers about extra precautions they can take to keep you safe. You may find this guidance on Home care provision useful.
It is also a good idea to speak to your carers about what happens if one of them becomes unwell. If you need help with care but you’re not sure who to contact, or if you do not have family or friends who can help you, you can contact your local council who should be able to help you.
What is the advice if I live with a vulnerable person?
If you live in a house with a vulnerable person refer to our household guidance.
How do you look after your mental wellbeing?
Understandably, you may find that social distancing can be boring or frustrating. You may find your mood and feelings are affected and you may feel low, worried or have problems sleeping and you might miss being outside with other people.
At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make you feel worse. There are simple things you can do that may help, to stay mentally and physically active during this time such as:
look for ideas of exercises you can do at home on the NHS website
spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programmes
try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water, exercise regularly, and try to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs
keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden
You can also go for a walk outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from others.
Further information on looking after your mental health during this time is available.
What steps can you take to stay connected with family and friends during this time?
Draw on support you might have through your friends, family and other networks during this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone, by post, or online. Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your routine. This is also important in looking after your mental wellbeing and you may find it helpful to talk to them about how you are feeling.
Remember it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so you may end up providing support to them too. Or you can use a NHS recommended helpline.
Advice for informal carers
If you are caring for someone who is vulnerable, there are some simple steps that you can take to protect them and to reduce their risk at the current time.
Ensure you follow advice on good hygiene such as:
wash your hands on arrival and often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
do not visit if you are unwell and make alternative arrangements for their care
provide information on who they should call if they feel unwell, how to use NHS 111 online coronavirus service and leave the number for NHS 111 prominently displayed
find out about different sources of support that could be used and access further advice on creating a contingency plan is available from Carers UK
look after your own well-being and physical health during this time. Further information on this is available here
Summary of advice
* if one member of your family or household has a new continuous cough or high temperature
** if you live alone and you have a new continuous cough or high temperature
*** for example cinema, theatre, pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs
**** for example via telephone or internet 1 such as anyone instructed to get a flu jab each year
The NHS will receive a further £32 million to help reduce waiting times.
The investment is in addition to £70 million funding announced by the Health Secretary in April and brings the amount being spent on the Waiting Times Improvement Plan for 2019-20 to £102 million. The £102 million is part of the £850 million set aside to support the delivery of the plan over a three-year period. Continue reading NHS to receive a further £32 million to reduce waiting times
The UK Government today launches a long term plan to ‘transform’ the NHS. The plan, to be backed by government investment of £20.5 billion a year in real terms by 2023/24, will ‘transform patient care and make sure every penny of taxpayers’ money is spent wisely’.
Now in its 70th year, the NHS has unprecedented certainty to plan for the next decade, ensuring that patients will be supported with world-class care at every stage of their life.
From birth, through the challenges that life brings and into old age, the government says the plan will ensure that the NHS is:
Providing the best maternity care in the world – We will ensure every baby gets the best start in life by continuing to improve maternity safety, and providing greater mental health support to new parents.
Supporting ageing and increasing independence – We will support people to age well by bringing different health and care teams together to make sure older people are getting the support they need to remain independent, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions. We will make sure people have more say and control over the healthcare and support they are receiving, including by expanding the use of personal health budgets.
Improving outcomes for all major conditions – Through better prevention, detection, treatment and recovery from serious diseases, we will improve health outcomes so people live longer and healthier. For mental health services, greater support will be provided to almost 350,000 more children and young people, and at least an extra 380,000 adults over the next five years.
Increasing the NHS workforce – We are improving access to mental health, primary care and community services, with tens of thousands more doctors, nurses and other health professionals – a full workforce plan is expected later this year.
Bringing the NHS into digital age – We are rolling out new digital technologies to deliver improved access to NHS services. This will mean everyone in the country will have digital access to their GP, including being able to make appointments, manage prescriptions and view their health records online.
Cutting waste across the NHS – We will continue to make sure we are using taxpayers’ money efficiently, including through introducing new digital techniques and making back office savings of more than £700 million across the NHS.
With NHS spending in England increasing, extra money will also go to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Barnett formula, which ensures every part of the UK gets a fair share of public spending. The devolved administrations will be able to use this money to improve their own services and develop their own long-term plans.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The NHS has always been the country’s most beloved public service – there to provide outstanding care to us all whenever it is needed.
“The launch of the NHS Long Term Plan marks an historic step to secure its future and offers a vision for the service for the next ten years, with a focus on ensuring that every pound is spent in a way that will most benefit patients. This will help relieve pressure on the NHS while providing the basis to transform care with world-class treatments.
“Backed by our record investment of £20.5 billion a year in real terms by 2023/24, this shows what we can achieve with a strong economy and a focus on people’s priorities.”
The latest Public Health England (PHE) report,published yesterday, suggests that influenza is starting to circulate in the community and is at moderate levels. The statistics show that over the last week, the flu hospitalisation and intensive care admission rates have both increased from 1.06 to 1.96 per 100,000, and from 0.19 to 0.29 per 100,000 respectively.Continue reading UK flu levels on the rise
Our Health Heroes, the national healthcare awards, are returning for the third year and promise to be bigger and better than ever, with new categories added to recognise more staff within the care and healthcare sectors.
Thanks to the ongoing support of headline sponsor Health Education England and prize sponsors UNISON, NHS Improvement and NHS England, the awards have grown and will now include the Lifetime Achievement Award #NHS70 and Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year Award.
The new categories are in addition to the established awards for: Apprentice of the Year;Workforce Planning Team of the Year; Integrated Team of the Year; and Clinical Support and Operational Services Support Worker of the Year.
Care and healthcare staff from across the UK can be nominated by line managers and colleagues via the Skills for Health website. Applications for the Lifetime Achievement Award are also open to public nomination.
Entrants will be shortlisted and regional winners and finalists will either be chosen by public vote or by an expert panel, before the winners are announced at the awards ceremony later this year.
John Clifford, (above). a physiotherapy technical instructor from Neath Port Talbot Hospital, won the Clinical Support Worker of the Year award in 2017.
He said: “I was shocked and very proud when I was nominated in the Clinical Support Worker of the Year category. During the awards ceremony I met with lots of deserving people from all over the country, who are all winners – every one of them go that extra mile in their jobs.
“You can imagine how I felt hearing about all the superb nominees for the category – I could have picked any of them to be a deserving winner. When my name was called out as the UK winner I was shell shocked and sat there for a few seconds until my colleague told me to get up and go and collect my award.
“I feel so proud to have even been nominated for this award, and even prouder to be the overall UK winner.”
John Rogers, Chief Executive of Skills for Health,said: “There are thousands of unsung heroes in our NHS without whom our healthcare system would grind to a halt.
“These dedicated staff work hard to keep the NHS running, and the excellent patient care that we all expect from our health service would not be possible without their commitment and passion.
“I am very proud that Skills for Health, the National Skills Academy for Health and our sponsors are shining a light on their contribution and I look forward to celebrating these amazing people at our awards ceremony in November.”
Laura Roberts, Regional Director (North) for Health Education England (HEE), said: “Health Education England is delighted to be sponsoring the Our Health Heroes awards.
“Healthcare is all about people and HEE is committed to ensuring staff working in the NHS make up a rich tapestry of knowledge and skills – whether they have entered the service through an apprenticeship or via a more traditional route.
“Healthcare support workers are the life blood of the NHS and through bringing to life the right values and behaviours, such as compassion, respect and dignity, they are making a significant impact in ensuring patients receive high quality care.”
Sara Gorton, Head of Health at UNISON, said: “As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS, it’s important to recognise its staff who work tirelessly, year after year, to help others. Our health service is the envy of the world thanks to the commitment, hard work and skills of all its staff.
“UNISON is proud to be sponsoring the Operational Services Support Worker of the Year award; these individuals are the unsung heroes of the NHS, who often work behind the scenes to make sure patients and their families get the best treatment possible.”
Mark Radford, Director of Nursing at NHS Improvement,said: “It’s a huge honour to help recognise and celebrate the contribution of our healthcare workers. The NHS is nothing without its people, and we are proud to be part of highlighting the value our dedicated workforce brings to the patient experience, day in, day out.”
The deadline for nominations is midnight on Sunday 16th September and the awards ceremony will take place on Friday 23rd November 2018 at London’s OXO Tower.