scholarly journals Our mutual fiends: cancer research in a time of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Dabin
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Science Museum ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Screening Services ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Science Innovation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Opening Up

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services in the UK and around the world cannot be understated. Cancer care services, patient and cancer research communities have been particularly affected. Screening services, treatment and clinical trials have been halted. Research laboratories have been closed or repurposed to tackle the pandemic. Despite these profound setbacks, there are ways in which the pandemic is accelerating areas of cancer research. In the context of a new cancer research exhibition planned by the Science Museum Group, Cancer Revolution: Science, innovation and hope , this essay draws out some remarkable parallels between cancer science and the remarkable research effort seeking to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge and therapeutic approaches from seemingly unrelated fields of medical research are opening up new possibilities to control both diseases. As the race to control COVID-19 has shown, the more research angles, disciplines and tools and people we can bring together to tackle the challenge cancer poses, the better our chances of staying ahead of this disease for more of us now and in future.

scholarly journals Health and social care access for adults with learning disabilities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-179
Author(s):  
Samantha Flynn ◽  
Chris Hatton
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Adults With Learning Disabilities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to present data about access to health and social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic for adults with learning disabilities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected directly from 621 adults with learning disabilities and through separate proxy reports by family carers and paid support staff of another 378 adults with learning disabilities. The data were collected between December 2020 and February 2021 and concerned the use of health and social care services since the start of the first COVID-19 national lockdown in March 2020. Findings Access to and use of health and social care services significantly reduced for adults with learning disabilities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and February 2021, with many people not receiving any services at all during that period. Similar patterns were seen across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, data suggest some variations between countries for some services. Practical implications Future pandemic planning must ensure that access to these essential services is not completely lost for adults with learning disabilities and their family carers, as it was in some cases during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Originality/value This is the largest study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and social care services for adults with learning disabilities in the UK. The authors primarily collected data directly from adults with learning disabilities, and worked with partner organisations of people with learning disabilities throughout the study.

scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators to accessing health and social care services for people living in homeless hostels: a qualitative study of the experiences of hostel staff and residents in UK hostels

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e053185
Author(s):  
Megan Armstrong ◽  
Caroline Shulman ◽  
Briony Hudson ◽  
Patrick Stone ◽  
Nigel Hewett
Keyword(s):  
Social Care ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Service Barriers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care Support

IntroductionThe number of people living in homeless hostels in the UK has steadily increased over the past decade. Despite people experiencing homelessness often having considerable health problems and a range of complex needs frequently in association with addictions, the experiences of hostel staff and residents especially in relation to accessing health and social care support have seldom been explored. The aim of this paper is to identify the barriers and facilitators to accessing health and social care services for people living in homeless hostels.DesignExploratory qualitative baseline data were collected as part of an intervention to facilitate palliative care in-reach into hostels.Setting/participantsInterviews were conducted with 33 participants; 18 homeless hostel managers/support staff and 15 people experiencing homelessness, from six homeless hostels in London and Kent.ResultsThree themes were identified (1) internal and external service barriers to health and social care access due to stigma, lack of communication and information sharing from services and assumptions around capacity and the role of the hostel, (2) the impact of lack of health and social care support on hostel staff leading to burnout, staff going beyond their job role and continuous support given to residents, (3) potential facilitators to health and social care access such in-reach and support from those who understand this population and hostel staff training.DiscussionResidents have multiple complex needs yet both hostel staff and residents face stigma and barriers accessing support from external services. Positive relationships were described between hostel residents and staff, which can be an essential step in engaging with other services. People experiencing homelessness urgently need better access to person-centred, trauma-informed support ideally via in-reach from people who understand the needs of the population.

scholarly journals The second Brazilian migration wave: The impact of Brazil’s economic and social changes on current migration to the UK.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Dias ◽  
Angelo Martins Júnior
Keyword(s):  
Transnational Migration ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
International Capital ◽  
International Mobility ◽  
Consumer Market ◽  
Current Increase ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Opening Up

This article explores the effects of Brazil’s recent economic growth and the narrowing of the inequality gap on the second Brazilian migration wave to the UK over the last two decades. Migration-related research has emphatically argued that this ongoing international mobility results from transnational networks developed by pioneers who encouraged fellow citizens to travel. Although this paper considers social networks as an important factor shaping the movement of Brazilians abroad, we propose to debate contemporary Brazilian migration by shedding light on the national socio-economic policies implemented since the late 1990s. Thus, through a rigorous literature review of Brazilian transnational migration studies and multi-sited ethnography in Brazil and London, we focus particularly on how the opening up of the Brazilian economy to international capital flow, and the implementation of social programmes followed by the enlargement of its domestic consumer market, helps to explain the current increase and diversification of Brazilians abroad.

Workforce ethnic diversity in older people’s care services: thinking back and thinking ahead in COVID-19 times

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Manthorpe ◽  
Jo Moriarty
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethnic Inequalities ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on long-standing, structural race inequality in Britain. This paper aims to review historic patterns of ethnic diversity among the workforce employed in services for older people to present some of the lessons that can be learned from the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A historical overview was undertaken of research about ethnic diversity in the social care workforce. Findings Too often, the ethnic diversity of the social care workforce has been taken as evidence that structural racial inequalities do not exist. Early evidence about the impact of coronavirus on workers from black and minority ethnic groups has led to initiatives aimed at reducing risk among social care employers in the independent sector and in local government. This offers a blueprint for further initiatives aimed at reducing ethnic inequalities and promoting ethnic diversity among the workforce supporting older people. Research limitations/implications The increasing ethnic diversity of the older population and the UK labour force highlights the importance of efforts to address what is effective in reducing ethnic inequalities and what works in improving ethnic diversity within the social care workforce and among those using social care services for older people. Originality/value The ethnic makeup of the workforce reflects a complex reality based on multiple factors, including historical patterns of migration and gender and ethnic inequalities in the UK labour market.

The impact of changes in service delivery in patients with colorectal cancer during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 28-28
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Kamposioras ◽  
Kok Haw Jonathan Lim ◽  
Mark P. Saunders ◽  
Kalena Marti ◽  
Daniel Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Telephone Consultation ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Primary Care Services ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

28 Background: Increased levels of anxiety and distress in both patients and physicians have been reported in response to the significant impact COVID-19 has on cancer service delivery globally. We aimed to investigate how these changes have been perceived by patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and identify determinants of increased anxiety. Methods: Survey (32-item) of consecutive patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer attending a large tertiary comprehensive cancer centre in the United Kingdom (18 May to 1 July 2020). Self-reported GAD-7 (both paper/electronic forms) was used as a screening tool for anxiety. Statistical analyses of associations:Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and uni- and multi-variable analyses were performed using SPSS v19 and R. Results: A total of 143 patients (response rate 67%), 82% male, and median age of 61-70 years were included. Majority of patients had telephone consultation (78%), including 40% who had scan results discussed over the phone; with favourable feedback received with both respectively. Twenty-three patients (18%) were considered to have anxiety, with 7 (6%) scoring for moderate or severe anxiety. Three items asked patients if they had concerns about getting COVID-19, were worried that COVID-19 would have effect on mental health, and affect their experience of cancer care. Patients answering positively to any of these items were most likely to have anxiety; multivariate analysis – OR 2.361 (95% CI 1.187-4.694, p=0.014), 3.219 (95% CI 1.401-7.395, p=0.006) and 3.206 (95% CI 1.036-9.920, p=0.043), respectively. Majority of the patients did not feel that they needed support during the pandemic period and hence the available well-being services were not used. Patients felt that friends and family had been very supportive but less so the primary care services (p<0.05). However, they felt they were supported by the clinical team. Conclusions: At our centre, during the first-peak of COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, patients with colorectal cancer did not display increased rates of significant anxiety. The findings of this survey suggests that some service changes implemented, including increased telephone follow-up, may have already improved the overall experience of cancer care. Importantly, patients were much more concerned about their cancer treatment than COVID-19, emphasising the need to continue to provide comprehensive cancer care even if we get a “2nd wave” of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Decision-making for receiving paid home care for dementia in the time of COVID-19: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa Giebel ◽  
Kerry Hanna ◽  
Jacqueline Cannon ◽  
Ruth Eley ◽  
Hilary Tetlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care Support

Abstract Background The lockdown imposed in the UK on the 23rd of March and associated public health measures of social distancing are likely to have had a great impact on care provision. The aim of this study was to explore the decision-making processes of continued paid home care support for dementia in the time of COVID-19. Methods Unpaid carers caring for a person living with dementia (PLWD) who were accessing paid home care before COVID-19 and residing in the UK were eligible to take part. Participants were interviewed over the phone and asked about their experiences of using paid home care services before and since COVID-19, and their decision-making processes of accessing paid home care since the outbreak and public health restrictions. Results Fifteen unpaid carers, who were also accessing paid care support for the PLWD before COVID-19, were included in the analysis. Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) Risk; (2) Making difficult choices and risk management; and (3) Implications for unpaid carers. Many unpaid carers decided to discontinue paid carers entering the home due to the risk of infection, resulting in unpaid carers having to pick up the care hours to support the person living with dementia. Conclusions This is the first study to report on the impact of COVID-19 on paid home care changes in dementia. Findings raise implications for providing better Personal Protective Equipment for paid carers, and to support unpaid carers better in their roles, with the pandemic likely to stay in place for the foreseeable future.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a brief intervention to assist health visitors and community practitioners to engage with fathers as part of the healthy child initiative

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (04) ◽  
pp. 367-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heatha Humphries ◽  
Mary Nolan
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Child ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Inclusive Practice ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health Visitors ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

AimsTo improve engagement of Health Visitors and Community Practitioners delivering the Healthy Child Programme with fathers. To evaluate a one-day, father-focused workshop with a supporting handbook for Practitioners. To identify institutional and organisational barriers to engagement with fathers.BackgroundThe UK government policy encourages health professionals to engage with fathers. This derives from robust evidence that fathers’ early involvement with their children impacts positively on emotional, behavioural and educational development. Yet, there is little evidence that the importance of engaging fathers is reflected in Health Visitor training or that primary-care services are wholly embracing father-inclusive practice. The Fatherhood Institute (FI), a UK charity, has developed a workshop for Practitioners delivering the Healthy Child Programme.MethodA ‘before and after’ evaluation study, comprising a survey followed by telephone interviews, evaluated the impact of the FI workshop on Health Visitors’ and Community Practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in practice. A total of 134 Health Visitors and Community Practitioners from eight NHS Trusts in England attended the workshop from November 2011 to January 2014 at 12 sites. A specially constructed survey, incorporating a validated questionnaire, was administered before the workshop, immediately afterwards and three months later. Telephone interviews further explored participants’ responses.FindingsAnalysis of the questionnaire data showed that the workshop and handbook improved participants’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in practice. This was sustained over a three-month period. In telephone interviews, most participants said that the workshop had raised their awareness of engaging fathers and offered them helpful strategies. However, they also spoke of barriers to engagement with fathers. NHS Trusts need to review the training and education of Health Visitors and Community Practitioners and take a more strategic approach towards father-inclusive practice and extend services to meet the needs of fathers.

Health and social care in an age of austerity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles West
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines the impact of austerity policies on health, well-being and social care in the UK. In particular, it considers the health care provided by the National Health Service (NHS) and other health services, as well as the social care that is normally paid for, rather than the wider social support provided by family, friends, neighbours or colleagues. The discussion begins with an overview of the economic case for spending on health and social care, and more specifically the logic in pursuing spending policies that carry a high economic multiplier. The chapter then emphasises the duty of governments and those working in health care to achieve good value for the money spent, citing the case of the UK NHS. It also describes five principles underlying market competition in the context of health care before concluding with an analysis of social care services in the UK.

Measuring Engagement between Industry and Higher Education in the Built Environment Sector

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 457-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Allen ◽  
Aled Williams
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Recent education policy in the UK has encouraged universities and industry to work in partnership as a means of improving the quality of student learning and preparing graduates to enter the workplace. Indeed, both the Lambert Review of Business–University Collaboration (Lambert, 2003) and the White Paper on The Future of Higher Education (DfES, 2003) highlight the need for collaboration and closer working relationships. This paper reports on the results of a research effort to assess the extent of university–industry collaboration in the UK's built environment sector and to measure the impact of such activity. The ‘Accelerating Change in Built Environment Education’ (ACBEE) initiative sought to identify the nature of engagement activities in the built environment and to formulate, evaluate and develop guidelines for best practice. Forty case studies of engagement were collected from the built environment sector using a standard template, and many sustained engagement activities and established collaborations were identified. The paper explains how these case studies were categorized and evaluated to develop an understanding of the nature of the different types of engagement. A framework was subsequently developed for the classification of the case studies. Finally, the paper considers how the quality of such engagement can be measured and proposes appropriate key performance indicators.

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