The AHSN Network is promoting work that supports people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), who are at increased risk from coronavirus. The network, through its Patient Safety Collaboratives, is supporting the COPD discharge bundle that can help individuals manage their condition at home and reduce readmissions.
Read "Support for COPD patients being discharged from hospital"
The assessment of patients who are unwell with COVID-19 or other causes presents a significant challenge for GPs and clinicians working in primary care. The RCGP and the AHSN Network held a joint webinar looking at the role of oximetry and other physiology in that assessment on Wednesday 29 April 2020. You can now watch a recording of the webinar here.
Health and care staff can now access materials and videos to support them through difficult conversations arising from the COVID-19 outbreak. Health Education England has published the new framework, training materials and tutorials which can be accessed by staff communicating unwelcome news to patients and families.
The COVID-19 Mental Health Improvement Network has been set up by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) on behalf of NHS England & Improvement. Its aim is to support mental health teams to share and learn from each other to maintain and improve safety in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New parents, unpaid carers, the homeless, young people and cancer patients could benefit from digital solutions as part of the TechForce19 challenge. NHSX, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have announced 18 innovative digital solutions being awarded up to £25,000 under the TechForce19 challenge.
Birmingham Health Partners has announced the launch of its Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation: The centre will support the NHS with development of new drug therapies and medical devices, ensuring their safe and effective use with patients.
Call 10 of the NIHR i4i Challenge Awards launched today, 22 April 2020. The Real World Implementation Challenge Award will fund investigations of medtech innovations in healthcare settings.
A new platform has been set up to support the drive to achieve 100,000 coronavirus tests per day by the end of April – the platform can be accessed at https://testingmethods.crowdicity.com/
Read "Testing platform supports target of 100,000 COVID-19 tests per day"