Researchers highlight the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cancer
New collaborative research from Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Split, Croatia and King’s College London has shown that the response to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is significantly affecting the treatment and care of patients with cancer. The research, recently published in the European Journal of Cancer, highlights how the repurposing of health systems and implementation of social distancing measures, including national lockdowns, have had negative effects on patients with cancer. These effects included delays in urgent referrals and patients having their cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy postponed, or surgery being delayed. Cancer is a common disease, with over 3.7 million new diagnoses in Europe each year and over 1.9 million deaths. The researchers highlight how this 1.9 million figure may increase significantly, directly as a result of the current crisis. Recent data from Wuhan in China, the original epicentre of the pandemic, shows that there has been a greater than 20% drop in the use of cancer drugs in the first quarter of 2020. The British Society of Gastroenterology also recommends that no endoscopic procedures, which are used to screen for bowel/colorectal cancer, can be performed for at least the next 3 months. Professor Mark Lawler, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Digital Health, Queen’s University Belfast, and Scientific Lead, DATA-CAN, the UK Health Data Research Hub for Cancer and Senior Author on the paper said: “We are already seeing the indirect effects of the COVID-19 crisis on cancer care. Urgent referral numbers are dropping, endoscopies and other surgical procedures are being postponed and many cancer specialists are being redirected to COVID-19 specific care. If we don’t act, we risk the unintended consequence of the current COVID019 pandemic precipitating a future cancer epidemic.” The research also highlights that as more people are worrying about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, less people are seeking advice on new symptoms of a possible cancer, including abnormal bleeding or new lumps on the body. Professor Eduard Vrdoljak, Department of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Centre Split, and the University of Split, Croatia and Lead Author on the paper said: “I am extremely worried. We are experiencing significant challenges. People’s fear of attending any health facility, coupled with their minds being more focused towards COVID-19 symptoms, mean that they may down-play rectal or bladder bleeding, a lump in the breast or other signs of cancer that otherwise would lead them immediately to consult their doctor. We are starting to see people who may be at risk of developing cancer fearing a COVID-19 diagnosis more than a cancer diagnosis.” Professor Richard Sullivan, Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy, King’s College London and author on the paper said: “The focus on COVID-19 through 24-hour news cycle and social media, has dramatically changed our emotional and social infrastructure. At the scientific level, the modelling on which public health measures are being taken is entirely focused on COVID-19 mortality and morbidity, with little or no consideration for the impact of control measures on increasing morbidity and mortality in cancer, or indeed any other health condition.” Margaret Grayson, Chair of the Northern Ireland Cancer Research Consumer Forum, said: “Patients, especially cancer patients, are extremely worried at this difficult time. Governments and health systems need to reassure patients and citizens, but they also need to act, to ensure that the care of cancer patients is not compromised.” Professor Vrdoljak added: “In transitioning nations in Central and Eastern Europe, and more widely in low- and middle-income countries globally, we are already significantly challenged in our fight against cancer. Let’s not make the situation worse by ignoring cancer in the current crisis.” Professor Lawler concludes: “We must encourage cancer patients, or citizens who are worried that they may have cancer symptoms, to continue to access health systems and we must ensure that those health systems are fit for purpose to support them. Cancer must be firmly in our cross wires, so that we avoid adding the lost lives of cancer patients to the COVID-19 death toll.”
iHASCO Offers Free Training to all Key Workers Across the UK
Bracknell based eLearning provider, iHASCO, have announced that all key workers across the UK can obtain free access to their Mental Health Awareness and Infection Prevention & Control training programmes. The announcement was made shortly after they were listed on the Crown Commercial Service’s COVID-19 Catalogue of supplier offers. Mental health and wellbeing has long been high up on the agenda for employers, but now, it’s more important than ever before. The coronavirus pandemic could have a “profound” effect on people’s mental health – now and in the future, say psychiatrists and psychologists who are calling for urgent research. It’s the same with Infection Prevention and Control training; incredibly important in day-to-day life but with the recent Coronavirus pandemic affecting tens of thousands in the UK alone, it’s crucial that key workers are given high-quality training to stop the spread of the virus and save lives. iHASCO’s Mental Health Awareness Course is IOSH approved and recently won the THS Health & Safety Awards. Their Infection Prevention & Control training has been recently updated and is currently in the IOSH approval process. They also offer 2 variations of the courses listed above that have been specifically designed for the care sector. “We can’t thank our key workers enough for the sacrifices they are making everyday, but if our training can help those who are struggling with mental ill-health or even contributes to stopping the spread of COVID-19, then we’ve made a genuine difference” says Alex Morris, Director at iHASCO. If you’re a key worker or you’re an employer of key workers, get in touch with iHASCO today and they can get your account set up, free of charge.
Mediquip turns training into action at COVID-19 units
Across the country, it’s a growing challenge for companies to make vital deliveries and install equipment to help reduce the load on hospitals and critical care facilities. When Gallions View Care home in Greenwich was being set up as a specialist centre for COVID-19 patients to ease the burden on the local hospital and other care facilities, the local Medequip team based at Woolwich turned training into action and was tasked with installing beds and associated items to equip 30 care rooms. Medequip Centre of Excellence trainer Paul Cockburn proposed a novel solution. “With 10 trainees on my cohort at our training centre in Woolwich, it seemed like an excellent idea to put their studies and knowledge to good use in support of our team on the ground,” said Paul. “Following discussions and planning with our local operational team, it was decided to mobilise our newest technicians to complete the work.” The equipment was delivered in to the care home, some of it directly from suppliers and some from Medequip’s Woolwich depot. At 9 o’clock on 7 April, the team of trainees began work; no special PPE was needed as the facility was empty, awaiting its first patients. By lunchtime they had successfully installed a total of 30 Accora floor beds (low level profiling beds) and mattresses, commodes, overbed tables and high back chairs as well as two mobile hoists and two floor standing hoists, and the rooms were ready to admit their first patients. Following the success of this initiative, the team of trainees has been in action again, this time at Time Court in Charlton, a care unit with COVID-19 patients already on the wards. Here, Medequip took extra care with government-approved PPE, maintaining strict distancing from patients and staff. Within one and a half hours four beds had been installed complete with siderails, mattresses and two hoists, all ready for use with minimal disruption to the work on the unit. A spokesperson from the unit commented: “Medequip arrived in force to deliver the beds. Very professional, like a military operation; they were briefed outside and came in two by two, directed to the individual rooms, all went like clockwork.” “At Medequip, we’re very proud of our teams around the country who are handling an increased workload to ensure vulnerable people continue to get the support they need and to help with hospital discharges,” stated Medequip’s MD David Griffiths. “This is a great example of the Medequip team at its very best, working together for the good of our service users, using ingenuity and expertise to make sure we can match the new challenges we are currently facing on a daily basis.” For similar articles visit our features section
Keep Calm and Carry on Caring
With the Coronavirus pandemic now sweeping the globe, we all need to heed the Government’s warning to stay at home and observe strict social distancing rules to safeguard our NHS and look after our families. But even in these exceptional times, there are some simple ways that you can help yourself feel more in control and make a real difference to the most vulnerable in your community. Rachel Hardy, Chief Executive of Foresters Friendly Society discusses five things you can do to keep calm and carry on caring at this time of crisis. Call or video chat with elderly or vulnerable people: Research by the Campaign to End Loneliness found half a million older people already experience protracted periods of isolation. This will only increase as the elderly now have to self-isolate for 12 weeks to stay safe. Just checking in by phone or video call and asking them how their day has been can be enough to change someone’s whole outlook. Looking after our members has been part of Foresters’ ethos for many years, and in 2019 our members made nearly 13,000 care contacts to keep in touch with each other. Donate to your local food bank: Food banks are currently experiencing increased demand plus a fall in donations. To help them support as many people as possible, consider donating even a couple of tins of food next time you visit the supermarket. Many food shops have a collection at the front of the store where you can leave any donations and staff will make sure they get to those in need. Alternatively, you can find out where your local food bank is and then you can deliver to them direct. If someone vulnerable needs extra help with food shopping, it may be worth offering to pick up their food alongside your own. Becky Wass, from Falmouth, Cornwall, designed a postcard to let neighbours who can’t leave the house get the support they need. The postcard has now gone viral and everyone can print to share with their neighbours too, and it can be found here. Take time out to practice mindfulness: Everything is changing quickly at the moment and constant news updates can make it hard to switch off. Going for a quick walk everyday is encouraged even under the Government’s latest lockdown measures. Stepping out of the house to go for a short walk can help you to put everything into perspective and help you to feel calmer. As April marks Stress Awareness Month, it’s also worth talking to those around you about how you are feeling as they may be able to help you work through your feelings and relieve any anxieties you may have. Additionally, apps like Headspace are a great way to help you to relax, meditate, improve your mental health and feel better over time. Organise virtual activities: While we must adapt to this “new normal” it doesn’t mean all fun has to stop. With Easter around the corner, this is a great excuse to get everyone involved in a fun indoor activity. Why not host a virtual egg painting contest, bake Easter biscuits for yourselves or even host an Easter party for those in your household. Video calling apps such as Zoom and HouseParty have become popular ways that people are staying in touch with their friends and family and socialising together. Having to stay in isolation can cause a strain on family life and can be especially difficult to explain to young children who are used to socialising with friends or playing outside, encouraging them to talk to their friends over the phone or via video call can help to offer a sense of normality to their day. What to do if you are struggling with financial hardship: The outbreak of Coronavirus is also having a large impact on many people’s finances with job uncertainty and lost earnings an issue for many. Foresters Friendly Society is able to provide financial support in some cases for its members in the form of discretionary grants. The Foresters Support Fund can help adult members in times of hardship, paying up to £2,000 to get members through difficult times. Additionally, as part of Foresters Child Support Fund, Foresters is able to provide financial assistance to children such as those who are bereft of one or both parents; children who have parents that are incapacitated; children who themselves are incapacitated or have special needs and children who are carers. For more information visit our members’ pages to find out about the benefits we offer. At Foresters Friendly Society we value friendship and kindness and encourage all of our members to do anything they can, however small it may seem, to help each other and the wider community at this time. Supporting our members emotionally, as well as financially through the grants we offer, remains at the top of our agenda. Our members should rest assured that as your mutual society, we will do our utmost to ensure we put you, and our staff who provide you with the service you have come to expect, first at all times. Should you require additional support please get in touch with your local Court or call our main office on 0800 783 4162 and we will be pleased to help.
Sanders Senior Living provide meals for vulnerable people
Chefs of private residential care group, Sanders Senior Living, have begun to produce an extra 200 hot meals every week in an effort to help the vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis. The recently established and expanding care home group, derived from the successful Runwood Homes organisation, consists of two services; Claridge Place in Solihull and Graysford Hall in Leicester, and both have committed to an initiative to help feed the vulnerable. The SSL teams, who care for older people, including those living with dementia, wanted to do their bit during the lockdown period, when so many people have been affected by changes in regular services and accessibility to basic requirements. To set up their voluntary food support initiative, each home has reached out to local charities, volunteer organisations and their local council to work together and form a recipient list for their meals on wheels service, which began, on Tuesday 14 April. The chefs and their catering teams each aim to provide a healthy, freshly prepared meal to 20 different people each day throughout these restrictive times, to help ease the pressure of having access to nutritious food as well as having to go out, encouraging people to stay at home, as guided by the government. Delivered from door to door by volunteers from the homes’ local areas, those receiving meals can look forward to meals including shepherd’s pie, chicken in mushroom sauce and beef stew, served with a range of suitable sides including vegetables. Recipients so far include those in sheltered housing, isolated elderly people and deprived families. Commenting on the initiative, Pradeep Patel, Graysford Hall’s Home Manager, said, “A huge part of our role as a care home in Leicester is to engage with the local community. In light of the current lockdown situation, we felt strongly motivated to get involved and to do our part, with help from by our talented Head Chef, Robert Barker. We’re delighted that The Lord Mayor of Leicester assisted in identifying and delivering the first round of meals and we feel privileged to be able to care for our community as well as our residents.” For more information, and to make contact with a Sanders Senior Living care home for ways to be involved, please visit www.sandersseniorliving.co.uk
Keeping Greater Manchester’s health and care sector working
New initiative launched by the Growth Company to tackle labour market challenges as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) Businesses in the health and care sector struggling to fill vacancies to meet the challenges of COVID-19 can receive help from a new initiative from The Growth Company in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and delivery Partners. Employ GM is a service, across the city-region, for all businesses*, the self-employed and individuals to help match job opportunities, especially temporary, as new and replacement needs arise as COVID-19 impacts on business delivery. It connects employers who have urgent temporary (and permanent) vacancies with individuals across Greater Manchester who are available to start work straight away. It will provide practical support with the recruitment process including the promotion of jobs to a large network of available candidates, quick and efficient recruitment, and running a weekly payroll for businesses not used to utilising a temporary workforce. COVID-19 has presented huge challenges for the care sector with the health and safety needs of staff and vulnerable people at the forefront. Maintaining high levels of care with staffing numbers reduced due to sickness or self-isolation or due to different working patterns, so recruiting the right staff to plug gaps is proving to be essential. Employ GM will also support individuals who have been made redundant due to Covid-19, as well as self-employed people who have seen a significant drop in work, by helping them look for new job opportunities as well as providing them with careers advice and training. Employ GM will also support furloughed employees and those unsure about their next steps with careers information and advice to help them make decisions on work, learning, and training. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We’re in no doubt about the challenges that many businesses throughout our city-region are facing, which is why we’ve been working hard from the outset with The Growth Company and other partners to put in place all the support we can. “All of the actions that we take now are going to determine how we move forward after this, which is why we’re helping businesses, sole traders and self-employed business owners to plan ahead and even second workers to where they’re needed most. Greater Manchester always comes together in challenging times, and this has been no exception.” Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of The Growth Company, said: “Along with our Partners, The Growth Company is here for business and individuals who need support during these uncertain times. I am confident that the launch of Employ GM will help us to quickly bridge skills gaps across the city-region, as well as take some of the pressure off organisations by helping them to adapt and be resilient to change.” For more information and to get help from Employ GM visit www.employgm.org/ For business support, call: 0161 237 4127. To list a job vacancy , call: 0161 237 4120 or visit https://employgm.org/list-your-job/ If you’re looking for work, call: 0161 237 4121 or visit https://aspirerecruitment.org.uk/job-details/ Businesses looking for support can also visit the Coronavirus microsite at www.businessgrowthhub.com/Coronavirus or get in touch for more advice and support by emailing BGH@growthco.uk or call us on 0161 237 4127. Opening hours have been extended to Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am – 1pm to support businesses.
Maternity services are open for business – help us keep them that way, says RCM
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has called on every pregnant woman to support them in keeping services open and available. With maternity services across the country working to maintain as broad a range of services – including antenatal appointments and scans – as they can, the RCM has urged pregnant women and their families to do their bit to keep themselves healthy and protect midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) too. The RCM is calling on pregnant women to let their midwife know if they or anyone in their home starts to have symptoms of Covid-19 and they must also continue to attend routine appointments for antenatal care and scans to support the maternity services. Commenting, Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: “It’s really important to remember that maternity services are open. Every day, up and down the country, babies are being born and new families are created. Coronavirus isn’t putting a stop to that. Yes, some things may be slightly different – you may see your midwife via a video screen for some appointments, for example – but you will still receive the care and support you need throughout your pregnancy. “We want you to have a happy and healthy pregnancy and birth, and our members will support you every step of the way. What we’re asking in return is that you support them too, by reducing their exposure to coronavirus. If you or your partner has coronavirus symptoms, it’s vital that you let your midwife know before you attend an appointment. You’ll still get the care you need, but your midwife will be able to take the precautions they need to keep themselves as safe as possible. The same applies when you go into labour. Let the maternity unit know so they can be ready for you and help you welcome your new baby into the world.” The RCM has applauded the maternity units that are embracing innovation to replace some face to face consultations with phone or by video calls. They have stressed the need for pregnant women to continue to attend all appointments for scans, blood pressure, urine checks and blood tests as planned. It is also vital to contact their midwife if they have any concerns, particularly around the movement of their baby, without delay. Gill added: “I am so proud of the work Heads and Directors of Midwifery are doing to keep services open and to make sure pregnant women still receive the care they need. Please support them as we head into the Easter weekend, by not taking a break from the important measures that are in place to keep you safe. Stay at home as much as you can, and if you can’t continue to observe social distancing; wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face; and if you cough or sneeze, do it into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue.” For similar articles visit our features section
Dieticians help Covid-19 patients on the road to recovery
Dieticians from Edge Hill University are playing a critical role in supporting patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Julie Abayomi, Associate Head of Applied Health and Social Care, has recently been appointed Chair of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) England Board and is at the forefront of leading a team of health professionals that are giving out advice to combat nutritional problems at a public-health level. “It is not only our amazing doctors and nurses who support patients with Covid-19 symptoms. Dietitians are vital members of the intensive care multidisciplinary team,” explained Dr Abayomi. “Particularly when patients are undergoing sedation and ventilation, they need intensive nutrition support to aid their recovery. “The work of our healthcare professionals in this field is more important than ever to help us fight the Covid-19 outbreak. Our work to design, prescribe and monitor feeding regimens to meet the needs of each individual patient is so important to help them get back on their feet.” Across the UK, hundreds of dietitians are preparing to support the NHS in a variety of ways, and many who usually work outside the sector have volunteered to return to support their colleagues in clinical roles. Edge Hill University has agreed to release health colleagues back to the NHS to support their efforts and Dr Abayomi is herself is about to return to the NHS after seven years out of a clinical setting. She said: “I have always kept in contact with my colleagues working for the NHS and I know how busy they are at the best of times. This is a time of crisis and our NHS colleagues need all the help they can get, so if I am able to help then I will, and I’m so proud to see colleagues at Edge Hill University doing the same. My offer to help will enable to NHS to free up their experienced staff to deal with more urgent patients.” The Critical Care Specialist Interest Group of the BDA has recently published guidelines on the healthy management of nutrition and dietetic services during the Covid-19 pandemic www.bda.uk.com/resource/bda-critical-care-group-covid-19-guidance-published.html and is urging people to follow their advice. Edge Hill University offers a range of healthcare programmes designed to support the NHS workforce, for more information visit www.edgehill.ac.uk.
Experts urge delayed surgery patients to increase fitness training during COVID-19
Physiology experts are urging people on surgical waiting lists to consider using high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to boost the fitness of their heart and lungs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team of scientists at the University of Nottingham say their new research proves the benefit of HIIT in patients having surgery for urological cancer – results that are also relevant to everyone trying to avoid or recover from COVID-19. In a paper published in a Nature journal, the researchers show how a group of older pre-surgical patients significantly benefitted from a cycling-based HIIT exercise programme in the month running up to their operations. The results suggest that this HIIT regime has the potential to reduce the chances of complications or death during and after surgery. Dr James Blackwell from the Royal Derby Hospital and the University’s School of Medicine said: “We set out to find out what effect a simple programme of HIIT had on patients waiting for surgery for prostate, kidney and bladder cancer and were pleased to see clear positive changes with this very specific type of supervised exercise. HIIT significantly improved cardio-respiratory function in our intervention group of patients, but larger trials are needed to see what difference it makes on post-operative complications, socio-economic impact and long-term survival. The COVID-19 pandemic may result in patients waiting longer for scheduled operations, it is essential that fitness levels do not drop during this time. There may be opportunity for patients to improve baseline fitness levels prior to surgery”. Dr Bethan Phillips also from the University’s School of Medicine said: “We think the results of our trial have implications for the wider community in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We would advise everyone to try and increase their fitness by using simple programmes of HIIT which are freely available online, many of which can be done in the home or garden without special equipment. It’s so important that people stay fit as it improves their chances of fighting off COVID-19 or limiting the effects of the infection. This includes eating a healthy diet and cutting back on alcohol and smoking.” In the HIIT randomised controlled trial for pre-operative patients, 40 people were recruited with an average age of 72. All patients were awaiting major urological surgery for cancer – operations which have relatively high rates of peri- and post-operative complications. The patients were randomised into either the control group for standard care, or a 4-week fully supervised HIIT intervention in the run-up to their operations. Measurements of cardio-respiratory fitness and muscle mass were taken before the first HIIT session and again a few days before surgery. The HIIT exercise consisted of a warm up on a static exercise bike then 5 x 1-minute bursts of cycling at the patient’s highest level of effort, followed by 90 second recovery periods of unloaded cycling and a two minute warm down. There was a statistically significant reduction in the HIIT group’s resting blood pressure and also an increase in both the submaximal (anaerobic threshold) and maximum rate of oxygen they used (aerobic capacity) after the month-long period of the exercise trial. The researchers say these effects can have real benefits in helping patients who undergo surgery with fitter patients suffering fewer post-operative complications and recovering more quickly afterwards. The study also shows that it is possible to make a meaningful difference in the fitness of patients in a relatively short space of time before their operations. Most urological surgery is carried out within 31 days of a decision to operate. Previously urology surgical patients have been given pelvic floor exercises to help avoid incontinence after operations but the HIIT intervention has the capacity to improve a wider range of aspects of fitness.
