Medical Centre

1. Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years Vaccination for a small group of high-risk children aged 6 months – 4 years is starting. It is not clear yet how this group will be identified and who will be responsible for contacting parents and carers. See below for JCVI’s recommended groups for vaccination. It’s likely that take-up of vaccine in this group will be very low, particularly in areas such as London. 2. Covid-19 vaccination for adults The offer of first and second doses of vaccine ends in June 2023; after which it is very likely that vaccination will only be available for higher-risk groups. The Spring booster programme for people in very high-risk groups is also ending. We await guidance of which groups will be eligible for a booster vaccine in the Autumn. 3. Mpox (monkeypox) There has been an increase in cases of mpox in London in recent weeks. Be aware of the clinical features of mpox as discussed in this BMJ article. Human monkeypox: diagnosis an

Data published today   by the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of people who are not working due to long term sickness has risen to a record high. From previous research, we know that the most common medical problems that can prevent individuals from working include mental health issues such as depression, stress, and anxiety, as well as musculoskeletal disorders like back pain. In addition, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory conditions, cancer, and neurological disorders are among the many other medical conditions that can significantly impact a person's ability to work.   We have also seen higher death rates than usual in recent years in the UK; which probably reflects an increase in the number of people with long-term medical problems and their severity. A parallel challenge is demographic change to an older population, given that the  disability employment gap  increases with age. Trying to reverse the trend in the number of people in the UK who are not wo

 Postgraduate students in universities across the UK will currently be undertaking their summer research projects. How can academics successfully support their students and ensure they have a good learning experience and successfully complete their research project? The first meeting with the student sets the foundation for a successful supervisory relationship. It’s essential for academics to establish clear expectations, foster effective communication, and provide the necessary guidance to support the student during their research project. 1. Introduction & Background: Begin the meeting by introducing yourself and providing an overview of your research expertise and experience. Ask the student to introduce themselves and their background, including their research interests and motivations for pursuing the project. 2. Research Project Overview: Provide a detailed overview of the research project, including its objectives, scope, and any specific research questions that need to be

Wastewater surveillance is a technique that can be used to detect and track the spread of infectious diseases, including Covid-19. Wastewater is a rich source of genetic material from the people who use facilities in locations such as schools. By testing wastewater for the presence of viruses, public health officials can get an early warning of an outbreak before it becomes widespread. Our recent study published in the journal PLOS One found that wastewater surveillance can be used to detect Covid-19 with high accuracy. The study, which was conducted in England collected wastewater samples over a period of six months. We found that wastewater samples from areas with high rates of Covid-19 infection had significantly higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material than samples from areas with low rates of infection. We also found that wastewater surveillance can be used to track the spread of new variants of SARS-CoV-2. We were able to identify the Alpha and Delta variants in wastewater s

Our recent article in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health discusses burnout, a psychological response to chronic workplace stress that is particularly common in healthcare workers and which has been made worse by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Burnout is caused by factors such as increasing workload, inadequate support from employers and colleagues, and a stressful work environment. It has negative effects on both patients and healthcare professionals, including reduced patient satisfaction, an increase in medical errors, and decreased quality of care. Addressing burnout requires a multi-pronged approach involving individual and organisational-level strategies.  Managing people’s workload, providing individual-focused interventions like stress management, and offering professional development opportunities can help reduce burnout. Supportive leadership, peer support, and a healthy work-life balance are also important. Organisational culture and leadership play a c